Symptoms Of Panic Attack


If you think that you may have had a panic attack it is important that you see your doctor as many of the effects associated with them can be very similar to several physical conditions and it is important to rule them out first. However it can be beneficial to understand the symptoms of panic attack disorder in order to be better prepared to deal with any subsequent ones.

Clinically, a panic attack is defined as a period of intense discomfort or fear that is also associated with at least four of the following symptoms. Common symptoms or sensations include nausea, sweating, chest pain, dizziness, shaking or trembling, chills, hot flushes, numbness or tingling in your arms and legs, as well as a shortness of breath. Of course these are just the physical symptoms and there are emotional symptoms as well. An intense fear, usually not associated with something that most people would find scary is the predominant feeling.

Typically panic attacks will appear suddenly and reach peak intensity within a minute or two. They then tend to diminish slowly over the next half an hour or so. Women are more likely to suffer from panic attacks then men and the disorder usually manifests between the ages of twenty to thirty. There is no one definitive cause of panic attacks and no one clear solution either.

While there are several medications available in the treatment of panic attack, psychological therapy has also proven to be very effective. This includes learning relaxation and slow breathing techniques as well as cognitive and exposure therapy. With the appropriate treatment, most people can overcome their panic attacks and not have them reoccur.

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