Panic Attack Symptoms
A panic attack is one of the most frightening events you can experience. It’s even worse when you don’t know what’s happening. That is, you can’t distinguish between a “freak out” and a panic attack. Many patients report a feeling like they’re losing their mind or going crazy when panicking. This is what amplifies the scariness of the panic episode. How do you know what panic attack symptoms are?
When you can identify the symptoms of panic attacks, it allows you to mobilize and take action to manage this intense and overwhelming anxiety. If you read ahead and feel like these symptoms describe what you’re going through, please know that therapy treatment for panic is often quite effective.
A panic attack is a sudden and intense burst of fear that arises from an anxious or calm state.
Symptoms of Panic
The following represents the “official” symptoms of panic as determined by DSM-5. Please note that according to the DSM 5, the diagnostic manual used my mental health clinicians to make an official diagnosis, you must have four of these symptoms present for your anxiety to qualify as panic.
- Palpitations, pounding heart or accelerated heart rate
- Sweating
- Trembling or shaking
- Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
- Feeling of choking
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Nausea or abdominal distress
- Feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
- Feelings of unreality (derealization) or being detached from oneself (depersonalization)
- Fear of losing control or going crazy
- Fear of dying
- Numbness or tingling sensations (paresthesia)
- Chills or hot flushes
Contact Dr. Kushnick today to help treat your panic attacks.