Symptoms of Panic Attacks


As described above, the symptoms of a panic attack appear suddenly, without any apparent cause. They may include

* Dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea
* Dreamlike sensations or perceptual distortions
* Fear of dying
* Difficulty breathing
* Racing or pounding heartbeat
* Terror--a sense that something unimaginably horrible is about to occur and one is powerless to prevent it
* Fear of losing control and doing something embarrassing
* Tingling or numbness in the hands
* Flushes or chills
* Chest pains

A panic attack typically lasts for several minutes and is one of the most distressing conditions that a person can experience. Most who have one attack will have others. When someone has repeated attacks, or feels severe anxiety about having another attack, he or she is said to have panic disorder.

• The tendency to develop panic attacks appears to be inherited.
• Panic attacks often begin in late adolescence or early adulthood, but not everyone who experiences panic attacks will develop panic disorder.
• Many people have just one panic attack and never have another.
• At least three million Americans suffer from panic disorder.
• Some people's lives become so restricted that they avoid normal activities, such as grocery shopping or driving.
• Recent research also suggests that suicide attempts are more frequent in people with panic disorder.