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What are the main symptoms of panic attacks?

313 Answers
Last Updated: 07/19/2023 at 3:11pm
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Top Rated Answers
Opalitebalance
November 17th, 2018 3:06am
An individual may feel as though there chest is tight, breathing becomes difficult, shaking of the body may occur and it may be difficult to focus and concentrate on your surroundings. Vision may become blurred due to restriction of oxygen to the brain and individuals may feel dizzy as a result to this, often people feel sick or nauseous during or after a panic attack! Feeling overwhelmed can come alongside this and often a burst of emotions can occur, some may feel anger or sadness resulting in tears, everyone can experience panic attacks differently, for example people may waken in the middle of the night having a panic attack and not know what it is, often thinking it was a nightmare!
HappyCycologist
December 2nd, 2018 10:29am
panic attacks is a form a anxiety disorder which mostly occurs without a sign and you are under stress. you feel your body incomfortable, you begin to breathe heavily, feel your heart beats faster, begin sweating, shivering, your mind only thinks about catastrophic ideas, you believe you would die oder get an heart attack. you dont understand your body, why is he so different to normal situations. something you get an blackout, you can not thing clear anymore. you have an tunnel-view. only see the possible hazardous facts and dangers. it is a vicious circle, every thing gets more extreme, until you leave maybe the situation or fainted away...
SaraHoffman
December 6th, 2018 11:42pm
It is different from everyone but the typical symptoms are: "Racing" heart. Feeling weak, faint, or dizzy. Tingling or numbness in the hands and fingers. Sense of terror, or impending doom or death. Feeling sweaty or having chills. Chest pains. Breathing difficulties. Feeling a loss of control.
Anonymous
January 27th, 2019 4:20am
Based on my personal experiences (either by witnessing or having one myself) - Syptoms of panic attacks may/can vary depending on situations and individuals own fears, triggers, etc... Some may include, but are not limited to; Finding it hard to breathe and or quickness of breaths/shallow breathing, increased heart rate, dizziness, nausea, stomach ache and/or stomach knot, numbers and/or tingling in hands and/or feet, overwhelming feeling of dread and/or confusion, tightness of the chest, feeling the need to run away/"flight" (part of the fight or flight feeling), lack of social acceptance (feeling the desperate need to get out of public and/or social setting immediately)
Calmforest42
February 22nd, 2019 10:44pm
Panic attacks can take different forms in different people, and it's important to recognize that what constitutes a panic attack might not look the same in everyone. It can look like hyperventilating, shaking, sweating, fast breathing. Some people experience flashbacks to traumatic events, or are triggered by certain things or people that remind them of previous trauma. Panic attacks can also be triggered by high anxiety levels. Some people experience panic attacks as increased levels of aggression or defensiveness towards others, or it may feel more like depression. The attacks usually are described as intensely emotional, scary, and feeling like they may last forever. Others describe the attacks as bringing a feeling of doom, or impending death. These are all very serious and should be treated as seriously as seriously as a physical health ailment. Mental health is extremely important.
DelicateButterfly78
February 23rd, 2019 7:42pm
The symptoms of a panic attack varies from person to person. All I can do is to tell you about my symptoms. First, my mind will start racing. Then my heart will pick up the pace and then I will start having trouble with my breathing. This is not good for an asthmatic person. Then, my body will start shaking really hard and I will start moving fast, like I'm in a big rush. I will clench my jaw then pull on my shirt. When I get like this, I have to sit down and have no contact with anyone. What it does to me mimics a temper tantrum, when I'm actually not mad. Like I said, it's different for everyone.
dxphne
March 28th, 2019 10:18am
One of the most common thoughts during a panic attack is feeling like you are going to die, however, I don't neccessarily experience that (luckily) when I have one. In my case it gets very physical. I get nauseous, my stomach starts hurting, I get really dizzy and will feel like I'm gonna pass out, I always cry and get can't stop, I'll get a weird feeling in my chest, my heart starts beating really fast and I'll have trouble breathing. The thought that keeps going though my head is 'it's never going to be okay again, everyone hates you and you did everything wrong'. Afterwards I always have a really bad headache and I get really exhausted. Please remember that everyone experiences a panic attack in different ways. Mine is very physical, but you might experience completely different symptoms.
Anonymous
April 4th, 2019 12:52pm
Not every person may experience the same symptoms of panic attacks straight away as we are all individuals however the most common symptoms of panic attacks are Racing" heart. Feeling weak, faint, or dizzy. Tingling or numbness in the hands and fingers. Sense of terror, or impending doom or death. Feeling sweaty or having chills. Chest pains. Breathing difficulties If these symptoms get worse it's important you go to a doctor or emergency to get checked out I suffer with panic disorder and I find breathing techniques help me a lot but obviously everyone's different, some therapies may help or medication but depends on the individual
Anonymous
May 9th, 2019 7:13pm
Panic attacks can vary in symptoms for each individual. However, they typically are paired with anxiety, or a feeling of impending failure. Similarly, one's breathing will shorten and create a feeling of choking or suffocation. In my personal experience, I have become incredibly nauseous and sweaty, and in rare cases, have even thrown up from stress. This is also normally paired with an increases heart rate and some form of shaking. People also report a lack of control and detachment from the world around them, in a sort of out of body experience way. Similarly, one can become numb and even begin derealization.
deraomar
June 24th, 2019 2:40am
you feel like you can't breath and Spasm in your body members and sometimes you start shout and crying i wish you never test this feeling anytime ♥ .. i hope that you will never tes this bad feeling if you felt this befor in the next time you should be wiith someone who can let you calm down don't be alone in this case and for sure try to avoid the reason that drives you to this panic you will be happy soon and nothing will happen don't be worry i'm sorry if my english not good enough sorry ♥
15Kenzi
June 30th, 2019 6:35am
Sense of impending doom or danger Fear of loss of control or death Rapid, pounding heart rate Sweating Trembling or shaking Shortness of breath or tightness in your throat Chills Hot flashes Nausea Abdominal cramping Chest pain Headache Dizziness, lightheadedness or faintness Numbness or tingling sensation Feeling of unreality or detachment One of the worst things about panic attacks is the intense fear that you'll have another one. You may fear having panic attacks so much that you avoid certain situations where they may occur. Panic attacks typically begin suddenly, without warning. They can strike at any time — when you're driving a car, at the mall, sound asleep or in the middle of a business meeting. You may have occasional panic attacks, or they may occur frequently. Panic attacks have many variations, but symptoms usually peak within minutes. You may feel fatigued and worn out after a panic attack subsides.
MissLisa
August 9th, 2019 11:37am
Panic attacks are a rush of sudden anxiety which can cause physical problems. Although panic attacks can be frightening they are a perfectly normal response whenever an individual feels intense fear or panic. Panic attacks can manifest through a number of different symptoms. Just remember that panic attacks differ from person to person. Some people may only experience one symptom whilst others experience a number of symptoms. These symptoms include; hyperventilation (not being able to catch a breath), excessive sweating, shaking, feeling nauseous, heart palpitations, feeling dizzy or faint, chest pain, hot flushes, chills, numbness and pins and needles etc.
lavieenlilas
August 10th, 2019 10:44am
Symptoms can be different from a person to an other. Usually, you struggle to breathe properly, you may even hyperventilate; your heart is racing; you can’t think very clearly. Your hands might be humid and you might need to sit down. Most of the time you feel overwhelmed both by what’s going on and by your intrusive thoughts. Some may even be shaking, cry and / or feel the need to throw up. Surrounding noises might feel like they’re becoming louder and louder and you’ll probably have a headache. And you also may not be able to speak very properly.
Anonymous
August 16th, 2019 12:10am
Panic attacks may be different from one person to another. But the major indicators of a panic attack are: Raced heartbeat: when the heart beat feels irregular or fastened and that is often followed by: Shallow and fast breaths:breathing pattern becomes inconsistent Dizziness/confusion : when the person feels faint or perturbed Shaking: shaking of the members of the body can be a big indicator Restlessness : when the person can't sit still Feelings of choking/suffocating : happens when breathing becomes difficult from shallow breathing Headache: happens from all the blood flow that is leaving the bodies extremities and rushing to the brain Feeling cold:body temperature drops Looking pale/yellowish:from all the stress that is being put on the body
SpiceSpoce
August 25th, 2019 1:35am
Panic attacks are different for everyone, but based on mine, I have a few symptoms. I have panic disorder, so I freak out a lot. It starts with feeling low, I get chills. My chest feels heavy, my whole body hurts, I can’t breathe. My eyes water, but I don’t cry until the attack hits fully. Most people complain of feeling cold, as there is less blood in your limbs because your brain is in distress, using the blood for fight or flight. Chest pain, or your legs feeling wobbly is also a common one. Hyperventilating is very common, and I do it a lot also!
Anonymous
September 5th, 2019 12:32pm
panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause. Panic attacks can be very frightening. When panic attacks occur, you might think you're losing control, having a heart attack or even dying. Many people have just one or two panic attacks in their lifetimes, and the problem goes away, perhaps when a stressful situation ends. But if you've had recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and spent long periods in constant fear of another attack, you may have a condition called panic disorder. Although panic attacks themselves aren't life-threatening, they can be frightening and significantly affect your quality of life. But treatment can be very effective. symtomes Symptoms Panic attacks typically begin suddenly, without warning. They can strike at any time — when you're driving a car, at the mall, sound asleep or in the middle of a business meeting. You may have occasional panic attacks, or they may occur frequently. Panic attacks have many variations, but symptoms usually peak within minutes. You may feel fatigued and worn out after a panic attack subsides. Panic attacks typically include some of these signs or symptoms: Sense of impending doom or danger Fear of loss of control or death Rapid, pounding heart rate Sweating Trembling or shaking Shortness of breath or tightness in your throat Chills Hot flashes Nausea Abdominal cramping Chest pain Headache Dizziness, lightheadedness or faintness Numbness or tingling sensation Feeling of unreality or detachment One of the worst things about panic attacks is the intense fear that you'll have another one. You may fear having panic attacks so much that you avoid certain situations where they may occur.
Anonymous
September 6th, 2019 3:41am
rapid heart beat, obsessive worrying, feeling weak, faint, or dizzy, feeling like the world is coming to an end, Feeling sweaty, chest pains, breathing difficulties, hot flushes, chills, shaky limbs, a choking sensation, numbness or pins and needles, dry mouth, a need to go to the toilet, ringing in your ears a feeling of dread or a fear of dying, a churning stomach, a tingling in your fingers, feeling like you're not connected to your body -Most panic attacks last for between 5 and 20 minutes. The number of attacks you have will depend on how severe your condition is. Some people have attacks once or twice a month, while others have them several times a week.
Anonymous
October 9th, 2019 12:17pm
Panic attacks can stem out of Panic disorders, where people can experience intense terror. A panic attack denotes an abrupt surge of intense anxiety rising to a peak when thoughts of a particular stimuli are present. In simple terms, this means that when exposed a particular triggering stimuli, it can cause a panic attack which is an abrupt rush of anxiety. The main and most common clinical symptoms are shortness of breath, dizziness, trembling, palpitations, choking, nausea, chest pain or discomfort, and the fear of going crazy or losing control. I was a Psychology student back in high school, and this is stuff that I had learned! It is most important to know that even though panic attacks cause a lot of discomfort, it is important to take deep breaths and focus on relaxing your muscles! It’s not at all an issue to be someone who goes through panic attacks. You always have the option to talk to someone and find comfort there. Don’t worry, everything will be alright. Cherish yourself!
Anonymous
October 16th, 2019 9:22pm
The main symptoms of panic attacks include shortness of breath, racing heart, dizziness, imminent-death thoughts, trembling, sweating, hopelessness, shaking, feeling of detachment from reality, feeling as though you are about to go crazy, nausea, dry mouth, ringing ears, a general uneasiness, just to name a few. They often occur in the aftermath of anxiety problems and / or disorders, and its symptoms can vary significantly from person to person. Nevertheless, the fact that they can happen all of a sudden (your internal alarms fire off) and with extreme intensity, makes them often unbearably hard to cope with, terrifying and even traumatic.
Anonymous
October 24th, 2019 12:04am
Here is a bit of a list: Heightened vigilance for danger and physical symptoms Anxious and irrational thinking A strong feeling of dread, danger or foreboding Fear of going mad, losing control or dying Feeling lightheaded and dizzy Tingling and chills, particularly in the arms and hands Trembling or shaking, sweating Hot flushes Accelerated heart rate A feeling of constriction in the chest Breathing difficulties, including shortness of breath Nausea or abdominal distress Tense muscles Dry mouth Feelings of unreality and detachment from the environment. Try to keep in mind though that everyone will experience panic attacks differently; some may have one symptom, others have another. Panic attacks look different in everyone. Hope this helps :)
Anonymous
November 17th, 2019 8:53pm
Heart beating faster and Sweating also Problems breathing maybe crying to and feeling really panicked and scared feeling lost and don't know what to do I don't really know anything about panic attacks but I have to have 100 words so let me tell you that people are all different and there are different stages of a panic attack please if you think you have them seek medical help immediately so you don't get hurt keep your head up when your tears are rolling we love you so much and we are here to help you with everything you are dealing with
EmilyIsALlamaAgain
January 1st, 2020 7:49pm
Great question! There are many different symptoms of a panic attack because panic attacks happen several different ways (unfortunately). Some symptoms may include: tightness in the chest, trouble breathing, hyperventilating, or shaking. Others can also experience complete stillness, crying, or muscle spasms. Personally, depending on the type of panic attack I’m experiencing, I face all of these symptoms. The main symptoms would most likely be: difficulty in breathing, hyperventilating, crying, or shaking. If you’re experiencing a panic attack, there are several different ways of handling it. Depending on who you are, you may want to be held. Or you may not want anyone near you. You may want to talk to someone or you may want to be alone. There are a plethora of techniques and tips on how to manage panic attacks that are super helpful! Just remember, you are not alone and others are here for you!
PastelGutzz
January 17th, 2020 3:20pm
From my personal experience, breathing heavily or hyperventilating is the main symptom. Followed by shaking and the feeling of not being able to breathe or talk. If trying to talk, studdering may occur. Your heart will begin to race and everything will become blurry either due to the panic or due to tears welling up in your eyes. From the panic attacks I've had, I've started to cry during most of them because of how bad I felt. Another symptom would be dissociation in severe cases. This is when you feel your body and mind separate from each other.
Anonymous
January 19th, 2020 6:57am
In my personal experience, main symptoms of panic attacks include, dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, a feeling of panic and/or dread, shaking, crying, rocking back and forth, and/or paralysis. Panic attacks can be caused by fear, excitement, happiness, etc. It is commonly mistaken that panic attacks are caused only by a state of panic. Panic attacks are also different from anxiety attacks. Although anxiety attacks can evolve into panic attacks, anxiety attacks are like the little brother to panic attacks. They have most of the same symptoms only, weaker, in a sense. Caffeine would not be recommended for those who suffer from frequent panic attacks or anxiety.
Anonymous
January 26th, 2020 11:20pm
For me they could range from relatively mild to hellish. Main symptoms I've experienced: irregular breathing, feeling hot or cold, spinning in my head, paleness, heart racing, nausea, my rational thoughts would just switch off, shaking, and obviously feelings of panic, When it comes to thoughts they would never make much sense. I would usually think how I'm sick or dying even though I know I'm not. It's usually a thought or a very slight physical sensation that can trigger all of this. And when the physical symptoms start it really feels like you're sick, even though your health is ok, you feel a body reaction for panic, like you're ready for fight or flight. maybe useful when you're in an actual life threatening situation, but when it happens as a panic attack very often, then it's much more harm.
kindDreamer9743
February 14th, 2020 3:57pm
Main symptoms of panic attacks are varied from person to person and they may have all the symptoms and in diiferant orders, however shallow rapid breathing is certainly one of the top symptoms a dry mouth and a rapid heart beat which in some people feels like its a heart attack, there is sometimes pain in the middle off your chest , also people generally suffer with pins and needles in the backs of there hands which usually results in people wringing there hands to getter as if they were drying them and in some people will pace up and down and become increasingly nervous.
Catlover456
March 7th, 2020 9:19pm
There are many different symptoms because every person experiences panic differently. Some that are common are sweating, nausea, tight chest, crying, feeling dizzy and having trouble breathing. If you are experiencing a panic attack, here are some things you can do to help. You can go several different ways. You could go with a distraction like going for a walk, watching a move, baking, colouring, hanging out with a friend or a family member. Or you can go with something soothing, such as putting on a scented lotion, lighting a nice smelling candle, taking a hot bath or shower. And also know, that us listeners at 7 cups are here for you at anytime that you need us!
Anonymous
March 8th, 2020 2:36pm
Panic attacks are different for every individual, but generally the symptoms include shortness of breath, feelings of being out of control, excess sweating, dry mouth, feeling as though you can’t catch your breath and in worst case scenarios, hyperventilation/not being able to regulate your breathing. A panic attack can be as simple as feeling overwhelmed when in a public place, but can also become really severe if not dealt with properly. They are a result of increased heart rate, hence the shortness of breath. Try removing yourself from the situation if possible, but if not, breathing exercises can be particularly helpful.
Anonymous
March 27th, 2020 7:22am
The main symptoms of panic attacks are the following: Overthinking, Worrying about things you can't change, Creating mind scenarios about what could happen. Panic attacks are often joined by an anxiety attack, they are linked sometimes and one can lead to the other. The main feeling that people get when they are having one is fear. They also could experience some sort of feeling of dying or a feeling like they're having a heart attack. Because they feel some sort of loose of control. They are unpredictable and unprovoked. Anxiety attacks are different from the panic attacks people experience. It can include sweating and feel short of breath.
blueskiesforyou
March 29th, 2020 1:28am
The main symptoms of a panic attack included several symptoms that are physically experienced by the individual. They may not even realize they are having a panic attack at first until the are told what a panic attack is the main symptoms of a panic attack included sweaty palms, heart racing, mind racing , shortness of breath or quick breathing. Sometimes when it is a bad panic attack you may feel Light headed or discontented. Almost like you are outside of your body watch what is happening rather than feel it happen to you. Panic attacks can be treated

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