Question by bassy_rap: What are the symptoms of panic attacks?

Best answer:

Answer by ubersimon
The biggest symptoms when ive had them was a sense of impending death/having a heart attack/stroke, derealization (everything seems like it’s a dream), chest pain, nausea, intense fear of vomiting, …panic, confusion and severe exhuastion when it’s over or when back to back and that nasty adrenaline soaked feeling.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_attack

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Those who suffer from non-stop panic attacks know full well that treatment requires more than medication. Even if you have enlisted the help of a trained professional, there may be times when you need a little extra help to get through the day. Here are some simple self help for panic attack tips so you can take control over your panic attacks once and for all.

Those with any form of experience with panic attacks know full well that a panic attack, no matter how minor, can strike at any time and in any place. While enlisting the help of a professional for treatment of panic attacks can help sufferers get to the root cause of their disorder, it is nearly impossible for the symptoms of a panic attack to go away with one treatment, it is important for sufferers to utilize some form of self help for panic attacks for the times when their symptoms may feel like they are beyond their control. Here are just a few of the self help for panic attacks tips so you too can learn how to take control of your attacks once and for all.

1. Take the time to understand your fear. In order to learn how to control panic attacks, you will first need to understand what exactly triggers your feeling of fear. True fear only presents itself when there is something that you should be afraid of, but if you find yourself feeling fear when no physical threat is present, then you are not experiencing true fear. It is only a malfunction of your body’s response to a particular situation.  Some of the most common triggers may be long term exposure to stress or a traumatic experience from your past. When you identify the triggers which cause your fear, you can then focus on the problem and find ways how to solve it so you can control panic attacks for good.
2. Make sure to state your dominance. When you suffer from some form of anxiety malfunction, your body will trigger a form of attack sensation to what others will perceive as harmless situations. These reactions will come and go and the good thing is that the symptoms of a panic attack are totally harmless. Your body is only utilizing its pre-programmed blueprint that helps keep you alive when dangerous situations arise, the only difference is that the symptoms appear when no harm is present. The next time you feel like you are about to have an attack make sure to avoid the instinct to want to run away. You need to remember that each attack is a response malfunction which is harmless and will eventually go away on its own. When you take control over your attacks and don’t let the fear get the better of you, you are taking a dominant stance over your attack. Tell yourself that in the next 20 seconds your symptoms will start and that you are more than willing to let them do their own thing. If you find that the time has come and gone and no symptoms of a panic attack have appeared, move on and drop any thoughts about anxiety. When you understand the feelings associated with a panic attack, you will no longer fear your symptoms which allow you to learn how to cure panic attacks for good.
3. Take time to clear your thoughts. One of the best ways to overcome panic attacks is to not even think about them. When you worry about the symptoms of a panic attack you end up keeping your mind preoccupied with the possibility of an attack which has the potential to turn into a disorder. No matter how bad your symptoms may be, its very important to think happy thoughts and keep your mind stress free. This is much easier to accomplish when you have an understanding of what triggers your anxiety and you understand that they are a harmless representation of your fear.

These are just a few of the beginner tips for self help for panic attacks. Once you realize that the symptoms of a panic attack are nothing more than the body’s natural response to a non-existent threat you can learn how to take control and overcome panic attacks once and for all.

copyright Patricia Adams

While many believe that panic attacks are something that occurs due to a life changing event, many do not realize that the symptoms of a panic attack are actually within the sufferer’s control. Here we discuss how to stop panic your panic attacks from controlling your life.

No matter how many panic attacks you have experienced, there is a good chance that you never gave a second thought to the fact that you, possibly subconsciously, let your attacks run your life. While you probably try and avoid the symptoms of a panic attack at all costs, you probably have never even tried to make yourself have an attack simply because you feared the outcome. Now that you are reading this, go ahead and try and make yourself have a panic attack. There is a good chance that no matter how hard you try you are unable to provoke an attack. Since there is nothing for you to be panicked over at this point in time, your body realizes that there is currently no need to show symptoms of a panic attack.

As easily as you can decide to not have an attack, you can also decide to have a panic attack. This may actually sound quite strange, especially since you have probably thought that your attacks were beyond your control. Most guides will tell you that controlling panic attacks is next to impossible, that you cannot possibly control the sensations that your body creates and it is this misinformation that has caused many to suffer with their symptoms of a panic attack for so long. It is this misconception that adds even more fear to the stigma of a panic attack which is why so many people suffer through them simply because they think there is nothing that can be done to cure the attacks. This is the most common reason why panic and anxiety suffers give up and end up in the pits of depression. Many feel hopeless, like treating panic attacks is a waste of time which is why they choose to suffer instead of looking for help. This belief is only further encouraged by those who prefer to not blame the sufferer for their anxiety panic attacks symptoms, but the truth is, it is your faults for letting yourself succumb to your panic attacks.

Instead of seeing this statement as negative, you need to actually see this as positive, as the admittance of the fact that it is possible to take control of your disorder. While the symptoms of a panic attack may be disturbing, you should not let them grown into the monster that hides in the closet. Your panic attacks are survivable. When you have a panic attack, take inventory of how you feel after the attack has passed. Odds are you will realize that no lasting harm has been caused. Your heart has not exploded out of your chest like you feared it would, the feeling has returned to your extremities, your breathing is back to normal, and your digestive system is back to normal. No physical harm has been done regardless of how bad you may have felt in the midst of your attack.

Now that you know that the symptoms of a panic attack will not kill you, that they will not leave lasting scars and your body does return to normal, all that is left is for you to overcome the mental anxiety that you associate with an impending attack. All that is needed is a chance in your attitude about your attacks which can help to lessen the anxiety and nervousness you experience before they occur.

A key technique to controlling the mental disturbance that you feel is to learn how to control the physical sensations you feel before an attack. These sensations commonly fuel your fear, which increases the intensity of the symptoms of a panic attack that you experience. If you practice deep breathing, muscle relaxation, and positive thought redirection, you can actually learn how to stop panic attacks in their tracks.

When you learn how to bring an end to the anxious feelings, the terror and the panic that you experience, you will soon find that your panic attacks are a thing of the past. Once you realize that the symptoms of a panic attack are within your control, you have the power prevent your attacks from controlling your life.

copyright Patricia Adams

When it comes to dealing with panic and anxiety it can be difficult to differentiate between what is normal and what is not. Here we give the basics of a panic attack and why it is so important to seek help before your symptoms turn into a life altering disorder.

While it is perfectly natural to experience some level of fear about an upcoming event, like a big test or presentation, the symptoms of a panic attack should not be confused with the symptoms of fear and anxiety in a specific situation. Unlike anxiety, a panic attack is a specific episode where you experience an intense level of panic and terror with some of the most common symptoms being the following:

• A pounding or fast heartbeat
• Feeling hot, sweating for no reason, or experiencing body chills in a warm room
• Feeling faint, dizzy or weak
• Experiencing a numbing or tingling of hands
• Experiencing chest pain or feeling like you are being smothered. This symptom is why panic attacks are commonly lead people to believe they may be having a heart attack
• Experiencing a sense of unreality
• Experiencing a fear of imminent disaster or loss of control
• Having a fear of dying

Unlike anxiety, a panic attack can occur suddenly and without warning. If you have experienced the symptoms of a panic attack then you probably know that these attacks can happen at any time and usually do not need a cause. While most attacks may only last for a few minutes, some can last for up to 10 minutes and in extreme cases they can last as long as an hour which while uncommon.

The symptoms of a panic attack can be present in people of any age, including children, adults, the elderly, and most commonly being present in young adults. It is also believed that these attacks will affect up to 12% Australians at some point in their lives, and that the symptoms of a panic attack are twice as likely to be seen in women as in men. While it may be easy to assume that the symptoms you are experiencing are those of a panic attack, you need to keep in mind that the symptoms, while similar, can actually be those of an illness. An attack can be caused by the physiological effects of a drug addiction or by a non-psychological medical condition, such as hyperthyroidism. It is in these cases that the symptoms of a panic attack would not be classified in the same way.

If treatment for panic attacks is not received, these attacks can morph into what is commonly known as a panic disorder. Unlike panic attacks, a panic disorder commonly includes a strong sense of anxiety between attacks since the sufferer fears when their next attack may occur. Sufferers may also develop a form of phobia or even generalized agoraphobia if the root cause of the panic attacks is not addressed. Many develop phobias or fears of being placed back in the situation or location where the first attack occurred, and is commonly why those who suffer from some form of panic disorder will choose to avoid certain locations or events. If some form of treatment for panic disorder is not received, the sufferer could potentially never leave their home, for fear that another attack may be around the corner.

Since many may be embarrassed about their disorder, most may choose to utilize some form of panic attacks self help instead of enlisting the help of a trained professional. While this may help to reduce the occurrence of symptoms and the severity of the attacks, it will not help prevent the onset of more serious illnesses like panic disorder or agoraphobia. Panic attacks self help commonly include relaxation techniques, behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, assertiveness training, and relapse prevention. Self help methods never target the underlying causes for an attack which is why it is so important to seek professional treatment for panic attacks.

Panic attacks do not discriminate and symptoms can be found in those who many not think they are prone to anxiety. If you find that you experiencing anxiety symptoms much more than normal, don’t be afraid to seek help so you can find ways to prevent these attacks from having a negative impact on your way of life.

copyright Patricia Adams

While some form of panic is perfectly normally in scary or potentially dangerous situations, panic that occurs for no reason or in perfectly normal situations is anything but normal. Here we discuss the basics of panic attacks so you can identify what is wrong while finding ways to make things right.

When it comes to controlling panic attacks you need to be well informed as to what causes these attacks as well as what can be done to prevent additional attacks from occurring. While most guides may point you to the help of a doctor or other trained professional, a good place to start is with the help of a panic attack self help guide. When you are well informed, you do not need to fear your attacks, because you will be armed with the knowledge that can help you stop a panic attack in its tracks.

The technical description for a panic attack by the American Psychiatric Association is a discrete period of intense fear or discomfort that is commonly accompanied by at least four of the thirteen physical or cognitive symptoms. Those who experience less than four of the symptoms experience something referred to as a limited symptom attack.
The symptoms of a panic attack can include heart palpitations, sweating, trembling, shaking, a shortness of breath, a feeling of choking, chest pain or discomfort, nausea, abdominal pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, pins and needles, diarrhea, dry mouth, headache, chills, hot flashes, depersonalization or derealisation. Many have reported a fear of losing control to the point that they feel like they will either go crazy or die. Both the physical and mental symptoms are commonly followed by a desire to escape the situation.

A key part of panic attack self help is learning how to identify the type of panic you may be suffering from. Here are three of the most common types of panic attacks. They are:

1. A spontaneous or uncued panic attack. These attacks are usually not associated with a situation trigger and will usually occur out of nowhere. This type of attack can even occur during periods when the person is relaxing or even sleeping.
2. A situational or cued panic attack. These attacks commonly occur in either anticipation of a situation that had caused an attack in the past.
3. A situationally or pre-disposed panic attack. These attacks commonly occur because of a particular situation. The attack may occur during the situation or immediately afterward.

Another of the symptoms of a panic attack is the fight or flight response. When the panic response is activated, the body’s survival mechanism kicks in causing us to have to make the determination to either stand and fight or run from the situation in order to protect ourselves from danger. Any system that is not required for fight or flight is temporarily disabled which makes perfect sense in situations that threaten our safety but when this response occurs when no threat is to be found, this response can be considered anything but normal.

Many of the symptoms of a panic attack that suffers experience are commonly attributed to this fight or flight response. This response is commonly experienced in anticipation of a feared situation or the fear of having an attack. At the same time the fear that occurs from either a spontaneous or uncued panic attack has a way of triggering the fight or flight response and it is the extra symptoms that come along with this response that causes additional distress and can create panic attacks for an extended period of time. Even after the initial symptoms of a panic attack subside, the sufferer can still feel frightened which can keep the fight or flight response active, sometimes for hours. In order to get your attacks under control, it’s a good idea to pay attention to what triggers your attacks and enlist the help of a trained professional if necessary.

copyright Patricia Adams