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What are the main symptoms of panic attacks?

313 Answers
Last Updated: 07/19/2023 at 3:11pm
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Top Rated Answers
chenrezig
November 16th, 2014 1:34pm
hyperventialiation, percetptual abnormalitites (tunnel vision, spots aroucd the eyes) sweating. People rarely pass out although this can be a big fear, heart palptiations also people get more panicked feeling like they will have heart attack.
MistyMagic
November 11th, 2017 1:51pm
t the feeling they can bring is really frightening. The words 'panic attack' almost sound like they belittling what happens, but they are just words. The main symptoms that I have experienced are a racing or faster heartbeat or a heartbeat that feels like my heart is going to jump out of my chest. My vision goes blurry or fuzzy, I can't swallow properly and my tongue suddenly feels too big for my mouth. I cannot function I feel terrified and panicked all in one. Once I realise what is happening I try to control my breathing and think of all my training. But sometimes the only way is to get out of the situation rather than cope with it. So look for help, move away, tell someone. An attack can feel like a heart atttack is happening, but if you can get reassurance that you will be ok then that will really help things to pass.
MusicGal
September 18th, 2014 3:11am
For me, I get a really speedy heart. I often vomit, or black out. My chest also gets all rashy. I often will say and do some stupid things, well anxiety does that. The blood at the front of your brain gets pushed away, and all your smarts are at the front of your brain, so when your in panic, and you say and do not smart things, you don't have the blood flow to the front of your brain #FunFact
Anonymous
June 22nd, 2017 12:43am
Difficulty breathing. Pounding heart or chest pain. Intense feeling of dread. Shortness of breath. Sensation of choking or smothering. Dizziness or feeling faint. Trembling or shaking. Sweating.
Anonymous
December 11th, 2015 3:40pm
Sweaty palms, sickness, feeling like something bad is going to happen. Like you have done something wrong or hurtful.
Anonymous
June 14th, 2017 9:20am
People who experience panic attacks often struggle breathing, and feel a sensation of great fear for no specific reason, both of these aspects causing them to tremble.
StormWilliams
October 25th, 2014 10:46pm
Panic attacks can be noticed by a rapid heartbeat, sweating, shaking, and a feeling of impending doom/terror.
Scaredtopieces
February 6th, 2018 2:11am
I feel like I have to get up and get away from it.. whatever 'it' is at the time. My heart racing is usually the first symptom. Like from 85 to 120 in a matter of seconds..from there it's shaking hands, cold or hot flashes, feeling like I'm gonna have a heart attack and die. Intense fear of this.. I check my pulse alot, the higher it is the higher it goes.. And my attacks just come out of the blue usually..no real fear trigger ..at least nothing rational.
Dylan999
November 1st, 2014 8:35am
Rapid heart rate, shallow breathing, sometimes feelings of heat or cold, numbness or tingling, nausea. You might feel like you're having a heart attack or dying but a panic attack won't physically harm you.
Dresden
November 18th, 2014 8:37pm
Panic attacks manifest differently for everyone. For me, panic attacks make my chest feel tight, and make my stomach really upset.
Caringmemory98
December 13th, 2015 8:35am
Hypersensitivity, feeling of breathlessness, fast heart beat, shivering, feeling of helplessness and utmost fear
gentlePrince55
December 12th, 2015 2:21pm
Panicking. There is no way to tell what you may feel under a panic attack, it's very person depended. But some key symptoms could be: increased heart-rate, faster breathing, shaking, hard time concentrating, feeling ill and so on.
Livvy14
September 18th, 2014 12:02am
Feeling like you cant breathe, sweaty palms, sweating, racing thoughts, feeling like there's a bump in your throat
branka88
December 11th, 2015 7:01pm
Shortness of breath or hyperventilation. Heart palpitations or a racing heart. Chest pain or discomfort. Trembling or shaking. Choking feeling. Feeling unreal or detached from your surroundings. Sweating. Nausea or upset stomach.
JessicaThinksYouAreAwesome
December 16th, 2015 8:58pm
Shortness of breath or hyperventilation. Heart palpitations or a racing heart. Chest pain or discomfort. Trembling or shaking. Choking feeling. Feeling unreal or detached from your surroundings. Sweating. Nausea or upset stomach. Feeling dizzy, light-headed, or faint Numbness or tingling sensations Hot or cold flashes Fear of dying, losing control, or going crazy.
Anonymous
April 23rd, 2017 3:03am
Personally I struggled with panic attacks on a daily basis for many months during a very rough time in my life. It would start with the butterflies in my stomach associated with a nervous/ overwhelming feeling, then it would begin to effect me physically. My hands would shake, I'd begin to cry and hyperventilate. Then the worst happens, the feeling like it can't get any worse as if you are dying and the whole world is spinning around you.
Anonymous
October 7th, 2016 2:43pm
Racing heart, chest pain/discomfort, sweating, trembling/shaking, shortness of breath, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, chills or hot flash, numbness or tingling, etc.
Gracey
November 8th, 2014 11:33pm
There are many symptoms of panic attacks, these are some of the main ones; raised levels of anxiety, shaking, sweating, chest pain, rapid breathing, heart palpitations
Anonymous
March 28th, 2018 10:58am
Shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, feeling dizzy/nauseous, tingling hands or feet, chest pain, feeling like you are out of control.
Anonymous
April 16th, 2018 7:38pm
I start to feel my heart race and then I begin to shake uncontrollably and I feel like I’m about to cry?
VinylFly
August 18th, 2017 9:34am
It varies from person to person. Some may experience mental symptoms such as racing thoughts, a feeling of impending doom, claustrophobia, etc. Physical symptoms such as an elevated heart rate, dizziness, sweating, tingling in the hands and feet, and nausea and vomiting can also be common.
Anonymous
November 24th, 2017 5:19pm
Panic attacks can be different for different people, and they might also have slightly different symptoms depending on what has caused it and how you attempt to deal with it. However, some symptoms are the same in most cases, and some of these include: - Shortness of breath and struggling to breathe. - Dizziness or nausea. - Pain in the chest, feeling like something is pushing against it. - Feeling as if something is pushing against your neck, causing you to choke. - Fear that you are going crazy or may be about to die. - Feeling that you have lost all control. - Increased heart rate.
Eclipsa93
April 10th, 2020 4:23pm
There are many symptoms of a panic attack and every panic attack may be different. Every person's experience is sometimes also different. Sometimes panic attacks can be serious, sometimes they aren't. In my personal experience, my attacks include, chest pains, feeling like I can't breathe, overwhelming fear, the thought and or feeling that something isn't right, the thought that I may die from doing something, or that I may die in general, the inability to get (or just that i don't want to move, heart racing, sweating, overheating, tingly feelings or numbness, pain in random places, confusion for a few seconds, vision changes, hearing my heartbeat in my ears, irritability, heart pounding, harder heartbeat, the sudden concern about my heart, feeling thumps in my chest, feeling like my heart skipped a beat or took an extra beat, feeling changes in my breathing. I have been to the hospital more than 6 times for this, and each time they say anxiety and panic attacks. They are stressful in itself! But hang in there! Take deep breaths, remove yourself from the situation, meditate and talk to someone professional about them!
Sophpeace10
January 23rd, 2016 10:52am
Racing" heart Feeling weak, faint, or dizzy Tingling or numbness in the hands and fingers Sense of terror, or impending doom or death Feeling sweaty or having chills Chest pains Breathing difficulties Feeling a loss of control
Anonymous
January 27th, 2016 10:10am
heart racing million miles per hour unable to think clearly or inability to consecrate on anything happening around you sweating and unable to breath probably fast breathing for sure like your having a heart-attack basically feeling out of control about what your body is doing itself
aaron182
February 7th, 2016 6:40pm
Fast heart rate, dizziness, feeling sick, shaking, heavy breathing, stomach cramps, sense of terror, feeling like you're going to die.
Caitlyn7COT
June 8th, 2018 2:01pm
The main symptoms are "racing" heart, feeling weak, faint, or dizzy, tingling or numbness in the hands and fingers, sense of terror, or impending doom or death.
PastelRhian
November 29th, 2017 12:01am
Shortness or excess of breath, shaking, dizziness, blurred vision, dull hearing, inability to move, migraines and cramps, sweating.
Anonymous
February 27th, 2018 3:32am
Feeling dizzy, shaking and heart pump including stomach turn.. At time fainting
SophieJay1496
November 16th, 2016 9:34pm
To me, the main symptoms of panic attacks are the increased breathing, the sweaty palms, the excruciating weight on the chest with the breathlessness. Pure terror overtakes my body and sometimes I am rigid to the spot in ice cold fear, and other times I have to pace, sweating profusely. Headaches and nausea are often a regular appearance in panic attacks with me, and in the worst cases I am violently sick.