What Does a Panic Attack Feel Like?

Panic attacks are the most common symptom associated with the diagnosis of panic disorder. However, they can occur with a variety of anxiety and mood disorders, as well as other medical conditions. 

A panic attack can be described as an intense feeling of fear or extreme nervousness that is brought on abruptly. Typically, these feelings of terror and apprehension occur without warning and disproportionate to the actual threat or danger. Panic attacks often last for a brief duration. However, the effects of a panic attack can linger for several hours following the initial attack.

Panic attacks frequently involve a combination of emotional, cognitive, and physical symptoms. For example, when experiencing a panic attack, a person may feel embarrassed or distraught over their symptoms. A variety of somatic symptoms can occur, including sweating, shaking and chest pain. The person may fear that they might lose control of their body or mind. Overall, these symptoms can lead to feelings of terror, causing the person to want to escape from their situation.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, (DSM-5) lists a set of distinct criteria for panic attacks. According to the DSM, a panic attack involves a sudden fear accompanied by four or more of the following symptoms:

Your doctor will also want to rule out the possibility of any separate medical conditions or related and co-occurring conditions.

Not all panic attacks are experienced in the same way. The following describes the three categories of panic attacks:

• Unexpected (un-cued) panic attacks: These attacks occur suddenly without any internal or external cues.
• Situation bound (cued) panic attacks: These attacks occur when a person is subjected to or is anticipating a particular trigger. For example, a person with a fear of heights may have a panic attack when inside of a tall building.
• Situational predisposed panic attacks: These attacks are similar to cued panic attacks, but do not always occur after subjection to a feared situation. These attacks also don’t always occur at the time the person is exposed to the trigger. For instance, a person who has a fear of flying may not always have a panic attack while on a plane or may have one after being on a flight for several hours.

Having panic attacks does not necessarily mean that a person has panic disorder. People who have panic disorder experience recurring and unexpected panic attacks. Panic attacks are also common among other anxiety disorders, including social anxiety disorder, PTSD, and specific phobias.

Panic attacks are a treatable condition. Typically, treatment options involve a combination of medication and psychotherapy. Medications include benzodiazepines, a type of anti-anxiety medication that can provide rapid relief for panic symptoms. Psychotherapy can help you explore your fears and learn to manage your frightening physical sensations.

There are also numerous self-help strategies for getting through a panic attack. Some of the more common techniques include:

• Breathing exercises
• Progressive muscle relaxation
• Visualization
• Desensitization

If you are experiencing panic attacks, it is important that you seek out professional help. The sooner you are treated, the more likely you will be able to get some relief and begin to manage your panic attacks.