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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
MindfulBecca101
October 28th, 2018 1:10am
Panic attacks are tough and are different for person to person but based on my own experience here are some of the symptoms present in a panic attack: firstly increased heart rate of heart palpitations which is often followed by shortness of breath, sometimes it can be compared to an asthma attack. Other symptoms include shaking uncontrollably which can then lead on to dizziness and headaches. In some panic attacks, ya may experience some stomach or abdominal pain this is because you’re tending so much due to the panic attack. Some panic attacks may lead to dissociation and therefore you feel dazed and it’s an out of body experience.
Anonymous
November 4th, 2018 8:25pm
Confusion is usually the first symptom to show up. Your heart might start racing, you feel like you have to get out of whatever situation it is that is making you feel anxious. It's also very likely for you to start crying or to have tears in your eyes. Shaking, sweating, or even having trouble forming cohesive sentences are also symptoms that are quite common. When I have a panic attack, my heart beats really fast and I usually start crying. It's also possible for me to need to run away, often in the literal sense. I usually identify panic attacks afterwards.
delicatdreamer16
November 15th, 2018 6:56pm
The main symptoms are a tight feeling in your chest, shortness of breath, feeling of being trapped, not being able to focus, and hyperventilation. Some people may also have shaking in their hands and/or legs. Afterward, some people may not know where they are or they may not remember what happened before, during, or after the panic attack. During them, it's important that you sit down because of a feeling of lightheadedness and hyperventilation may make some people faint or feel like they are about to faint. If you are prone to panic attacks, talk to the people around you about what they should do in those moments to best support you.
Opalitebalance
November 17th, 2018 3:06am
An individual may feel as though there chest is tight, breathing becomes difficult, shaking of the body may occur and it may be difficult to focus and concentrate on your surroundings. Vision may become blurred due to restriction of oxygen to the brain and individuals may feel dizzy as a result to this, often people feel sick or nauseous during or after a panic attack! Feeling overwhelmed can come alongside this and often a burst of emotions can occur, some may feel anger or sadness resulting in tears, everyone can experience panic attacks differently, for example people may waken in the middle of the night having a panic attack and not know what it is, often thinking it was a nightmare!
HappyCycologist
December 2nd, 2018 10:29am
panic attacks is a form a anxiety disorder which mostly occurs without a sign and you are under stress. you feel your body incomfortable, you begin to breathe heavily, feel your heart beats faster, begin sweating, shivering, your mind only thinks about catastrophic ideas, you believe you would die oder get an heart attack. you dont understand your body, why is he so different to normal situations. something you get an blackout, you can not thing clear anymore. you have an tunnel-view. only see the possible hazardous facts and dangers. it is a vicious circle, every thing gets more extreme, until you leave maybe the situation or fainted away...
SaraHoffman
December 6th, 2018 11:42pm
It is different from everyone but the typical 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. Feeling sweaty or having chills. Chest pains. Breathing difficulties. Feeling a loss of control.
Anonymous
January 27th, 2019 4:20am
Based on my personal experiences (either by witnessing or having one myself) - Syptoms of panic attacks may/can vary depending on situations and individuals own fears, triggers, etc... Some may include, but are not limited to; Finding it hard to breathe and or quickness of breaths/shallow breathing, increased heart rate, dizziness, nausea, stomach ache and/or stomach knot, numbers and/or tingling in hands and/or feet, overwhelming feeling of dread and/or confusion, tightness of the chest, feeling the need to run away/"flight" (part of the fight or flight feeling), lack of social acceptance (feeling the desperate need to get out of public and/or social setting immediately)
Calmforest42
February 22nd, 2019 10:44pm
Panic attacks can take different forms in different people, and it's important to recognize that what constitutes a panic attack might not look the same in everyone. It can look like hyperventilating, shaking, sweating, fast breathing. Some people experience flashbacks to traumatic events, or are triggered by certain things or people that remind them of previous trauma. Panic attacks can also be triggered by high anxiety levels. Some people experience panic attacks as increased levels of aggression or defensiveness towards others, or it may feel more like depression. The attacks usually are described as intensely emotional, scary, and feeling like they may last forever. Others describe the attacks as bringing a feeling of doom, or impending death. These are all very serious and should be treated as seriously as seriously as a physical health ailment. Mental health is extremely important.
DelicateButterfly78
February 23rd, 2019 7:42pm
The symptoms of a panic attack varies from person to person. All I can do is to tell you about my symptoms. First, my mind will start racing. Then my heart will pick up the pace and then I will start having trouble with my breathing. This is not good for an asthmatic person. Then, my body will start shaking really hard and I will start moving fast, like I'm in a big rush. I will clench my jaw then pull on my shirt. When I get like this, I have to sit down and have no contact with anyone. What it does to me mimics a temper tantrum, when I'm actually not mad. Like I said, it's different for everyone.
dxphne
March 28th, 2019 10:18am
One of the most common thoughts during a panic attack is feeling like you are going to die, however, I don't neccessarily experience that (luckily) when I have one. In my case it gets very physical. I get nauseous, my stomach starts hurting, I get really dizzy and will feel like I'm gonna pass out, I always cry and get can't stop, I'll get a weird feeling in my chest, my heart starts beating really fast and I'll have trouble breathing. The thought that keeps going though my head is 'it's never going to be okay again, everyone hates you and you did everything wrong'. Afterwards I always have a really bad headache and I get really exhausted. Please remember that everyone experiences a panic attack in different ways. Mine is very physical, but you might experience completely different symptoms.
Anonymous
April 4th, 2019 12:52pm
Not every person may experience the same symptoms of panic attacks straight away as we are all individuals however the most common symptoms of panic attacks are 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 If these symptoms get worse it's important you go to a doctor or emergency to get checked out I suffer with panic disorder and I find breathing techniques help me a lot but obviously everyone's different, some therapies may help or medication but depends on the individual
Anonymous
May 9th, 2019 7:13pm
Panic attacks can vary in symptoms for each individual. However, they typically are paired with anxiety, or a feeling of impending failure. Similarly, one's breathing will shorten and create a feeling of choking or suffocation. In my personal experience, I have become incredibly nauseous and sweaty, and in rare cases, have even thrown up from stress. This is also normally paired with an increases heart rate and some form of shaking. People also report a lack of control and detachment from the world around them, in a sort of out of body experience way. Similarly, one can become numb and even begin derealization.
deraomar
June 24th, 2019 2:40am
you feel like you can't breath and Spasm in your body members and sometimes you start shout and crying i wish you never test this feeling anytime ♥ .. i hope that you will never tes this bad feeling if you felt this befor in the next time you should be wiith someone who can let you calm down don't be alone in this case and for sure try to avoid the reason that drives you to this panic you will be happy soon and nothing will happen don't be worry i'm sorry if my english not good enough sorry ♥
15Kenzi
June 30th, 2019 6:35am
Sense of impending doom or danger Fear of loss of control or death Rapid, pounding heart rate Sweating Trembling or shaking Shortness of breath or tightness in your throat Chills Hot flashes Nausea Abdominal cramping Chest pain Headache Dizziness, lightheadedness or faintness Numbness or tingling sensation Feeling of unreality or detachment One of the worst things about panic attacks is the intense fear that you'll have another one. You may fear having panic attacks so much that you avoid certain situations where they may occur. Panic attacks typically begin suddenly, without warning. They can strike at any time — when you're driving a car, at the mall, sound asleep or in the middle of a business meeting. You may have occasional panic attacks, or they may occur frequently. Panic attacks have many variations, but symptoms usually peak within minutes. You may feel fatigued and worn out after a panic attack subsides.
Anonymous
September 6th, 2020 7:33pm
Panic attacks can be silent as well as more verbal and obvious. the key symptoms of more physical panic attacks are tightness in your chest, where you are struggling to breathe. The feeling of loss of control where you believe that no matter what you're doing or about to do you cant help yourself which creates the feeling of anxiety. Another symptom is the feeling that you are about to pass out or nauseous because of your brain sending to many emotions where you feel overwhelmed and stuck on what to do. panic attacks can happen anywhere or at any time to anyone!
LaszloSzakali
November 11th, 2020 2:42pm
Panic Attack Symptoms Panic attacks involve sudden feelings of terror that strike without warning. These episodes can occur at any time, even during sleep. People experiencing a panic attack may believe they are having a heart attack or they are dying or going crazy. The fear and terror that a person experiences during a panic attack are not in proportion to the true situation and may be unrelated to what is happening around them. Most people with panic attacks experience several of the following symptoms: "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 Panic attacks are generally brief, lasting less than 10 minutes, although some of the symptoms may persist for a longer time. People who have had one panic attack are at greater risk for having subsequent panic attacks than those who have never experienced a panic attack. When the attacks occur repeatedly, and there is worry about having more episodes, a person is considered to have a condition known as panic disorder. People with panic disorder may be extremely anxious and fearful, since they are unable to predict when the next episode will occur. Panic disorder is fairly common and affects about 6 million adults in the U.S. Women are twice as likely as men to develop the condition, and its symptoms usually begin in early adulthood. It is not clear what causes panic disorder. In many people who have the biological vulnerability to panic attacks, they may develop in association with major life changes (such as getting married, having a child, starting a first job, etc.) and major lifestyle stressors. There is also some evidence that suggests that the tendency to develop panic disorder may run in families. People who suffer from panic disorder are also more likely than others to suffer from depression, attempt suicide, or to abuse alcohol or drugs. Fortunately, panic disorder is a treatable condition. Psychotherapy and medications have both been used, either singly or in combination, for successful treatment of panic disorder. If medication is necessary, your doctor may prescribe anti-anxiety medications, certain antidepressants or sometimes certain anticonvulsant drugs that also have anti-anxiety properties, or a class of heart medications known as beta-blockers to help prevent or control the episodes in panic disorder.
holyboo
November 9th, 2020 3:43pm
I don´t usually have a pattern. The first time i had a panic attack i started crying and feeling nauseous. It was like my breath gone away and i started walking around my house like crazy until i started having a huge urge to scream. I was alone by that time and i was really scared. Listening to music started calming me down gradually. Afterwords my panic attacks usually were like getting hypoglycemic or i just started shaking like crazy even tho my mind was calm. I regularly get fadigue or a feeling of being floating out of my body, like a wasnt myself and being numb/not being able to take counscious decisions. Anyways, my point is there is no right formula for a panic attack and everybody works and reacts differently. Just make sure to try to find your own patterns and find you triggers so you can work on getting better and finding a way to calm yourself.
pancakepandas
November 5th, 2020 10:36pm
When I have a panic attack, I notice that it starts with a tension in my breathing. All of a sudden, I'll feel constricted, and no matter what I do, I end up feeling like a giant weight is getting pressed on me and I can't get rid of it. It makes me panic even more, and now I can't concentrate, because all I can think is about how I'm going to die because I can't breathe. At times, I'll have chest pains, and I'll also feel a numbness or tingliness in my body. The thing that I do that I've found helps, is to follow breathing techniques, or to flip so that I'm laying on my stomach, because in a way , I feel like I am controlling the pressure on my chest.
Anonymous
October 28th, 2020 3:58am
Symptoms of panic attacks vary from person to person, but here are some signs you may be experiencing a panic attack. Remember that I am not a professional and if you feel you have anxiety you should try to get help. Here are some common symptoms of a panic attack; Racing heart/high blood pressure Heavy breathing Increased sense of panic Feeling in a constant state of danger Nausea Hyperventilating Sweating Trembling/shaking Heat flashes/chills Chest pain and dizziness During a panic attack you might feel terrified and you should try to remember that you are okay. If you experience these and other anxiety-related symptoms, please seek professional help.
HopefulBambi
September 16th, 2020 8:28pm
Each persons symptoms for panic attacks can vary on the individual and the type of anxiety they are struggling with. A lot of people happen to go through either sweating or chills, the feeling of a "racing heart", trembling or shaking, physical and emotional weakness, dizziness, tingly or numb hands, chest or stomach pain, and migraines. To combat these, some people like to remove themselves from a situation and just take time to deescalate their state of mind. This can be done with closing your eyes, finding a place that is comfortable and safe to you, and taking deep breathes.
emily2803
September 16th, 2020 2:49am
The symptoms of panic attacks can vary from person to person, but there are a few main symptoms that one can take into consideration when analyzing whether or not they are or have been experiencing panic attacks. Panic attacks usually involve a feeling of anxiousness or impending doom/panic, trouble with breathing, sweating, rapid heart rate, hot flashes or chills, nausea, and lightheadedness. Some people have also experienced a feeling of detachment from reality, numbness, a loss of control, shaking, and abdominal cramping. Panic attacks can occur at least once in a person's life time, but recurring panic attacks could be an indicator of panic disorder or related issues. If at any point in time, you are concerned about the status of your health and think that you are experiencing panic attacks, try to speak to someone you trust or speak to a healthcare professional.
Anonymous
September 12th, 2020 8:03pm
For myself, when I experience a panic/anxiety attack, I feel warm, my heart starts racing, I feel like it's the end of the world, nothing will make it better. My breathing becomes short and rapid, and I start to sweat. Although, I feel cool. Physically, I get pain in my chest, I feel sick to my stomach, and dizzy. Also, I sometimes experience cramping, and headaches. Dealing with these symptoms can be difficult in the moment. Some diminish once you've calmed yourself down, and return to normal heart rate and breathing, however, there are times when some of these symptoms will linger for a while.
cooperelizabeth
July 29th, 2020 11:48pm
Panic attacks have a broad range of symptoms depending on the person having the panic attack. The symptoms can be different depending on what is causing you to have the panic attack in the first place. The most common symptoms of panic attacks are the following: - Sense of impending doom or danger - Fear of loss of control or death - Rapid, pounding heart rate - Sweating - Trembling or shaking - Shortness of breath or tightness in your throat - Chills - Hot flashes - Nausea - Abdominal cramping - Chest pain - Headache - Dizziness, lightheadedness or faintness - Numbness or tingling sensation - Feeling of unreality or detachment. If you feel these symptoms you are probably having a panic attack. Talk to a qualified therapist to find the right treatment for you.
Anonymous
July 3rd, 2020 3:34am
The main symptoms of a panic attack are rapid heart beat, numbness in body or legs, dizziness, shaking and trembling, shortness of breathe, tight feeling of or around the throat, and feeling like you are going to die. I know this from personal experience. I had my first panic attack when I was ten. I was so scared when it happened and didn't understand what was going on. I felt like I was going to die and that I had no control over it. My legs started to shake and my throat tightened. After researching it my self and going to a counselor I now know the most common signs of a panic attack.
LittleBirdie30
July 9th, 2020 5:47am
Symptoms of panic attacks can vary from person to person. Some people may zone out and not feel themselves, while others cry for a short period of time. Other symptoms some people may experience include a pounding and racing heart, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, tingling and feeling out of control. The definition of anxiety attack is "a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause." Anxiety attacks can happen to anyone and can last around 30 minutes, including the physical symptoms. Just know you are not alone!
Anonymous
July 19th, 2020 2:47am
The main symptoms of a panic attack is the Inability to shake sense of impending doom. This can sometimes be accompanied by physical symptoms such as sweating, palpitation, heart racing, trembling, shaking, however every person differs in their display of panic attacks but the common denominator is the overwhelming sense of dread. Other common symptoms can include Sense of impending doom or danger. Fear of loss of control or death. Rapid, pounding heart rate. Sweating. Trembling or shaking. Shortness of breath or tightness in your throat. Chills. Hot flashes. Difficulty breathing. Pounding heart or chest pain. Intense feeling of terror. Sensation of choking or smothering. Dizziness or feeling faint. Trembling or shaking. Sweating. Nausea or stomachache.
blossomjessie
August 22nd, 2020 3:08pm
The main symptoms of panic attacks are a tightness in the chest, quickened more intensified breaths, and a general sense of panic coursing throughout your body. The cause of panic attacks is usually an extreme stress situation or a speck if it trigger that the person has. An traumatic event can leave people with a set of triggers that could all potentially send the victim into a panic attack. High stress situations that seem to be overwhelming and no solution is in sight can send the person into a panic attack as well. Panic attacks can vary in length, but usually range from 10 minutes to an hour.
KatieTheWingedOne
September 4th, 2020 4:54pm
Panic attacks though generalised, can vary from persson to person given the situation and how you respond to stress. Though the main symptoms of panic attacks are: (physical) -a fast heartrate -ringing in ears or tingling in fingers -heavy breathing -chills -trembling -feeling faint -feeling dizzy or weak -sweating or nausea (mental) : -feeling scared or like dying -some describe it as they arent attached to their body -like things arent real -cant think (now this all varies and some may apply more than others or not at all, though usually a panic attack is an overwhelming set of feelings sending you into a state of panic, lasting 5-20 minutes but sometimes an hour) that's from my personal experience with them and knowledge on them, hope it helps
Anonymous
November 14th, 2020 4:47am
For me at least, I tend to shake my hands and breathe heavily. I get overwhelmed, and don't know what to do with my hands. I'll overthink, and go on long, unprompted rambles Depending on the situation, I can stutter or blank entirely. I know some more common ones are sweating, shivering, hypreventilating, and heart pounding. Everyone has different signs, and that's okay! Your anxiety is unique to you, and there's no wrong way to have a panic attack. To calm down, I go through affirmations. (affirmations are facts that you know, and can repeat until you feel secure! one of my favorites is: i will go to bed tonight, and i will be safe. i will be free of this weight.)
CatInLap
August 22nd, 2020 5:29am
Panic attacks different than anxiety attacks can be confused often. In a panic attack, the person feels a sense of dread and becomes sure something is very wrong. Often they get light-headed, dizzy, faint, have chest pain and may feel like they are having a heart attack or about to pass out. Your heart might pound, you may sweat, and have trouble breathing, get chills or nausea, your stomach might tense and cramp. Headaches and numbness or tingling or feeling a little dissociated (unreality or detached) The most common symptoms are intense fear and if you've had one you may be petrified of having another and that can cause you to have another one :( Know that they are not dangerous but they are hard to manage and if you have them a lot they can interfere with getting things done or enjoying things.