What are the main symptoms of panic attacks?
313 Answers
Moderated by Maria Wasielewski, Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance, University of Arizona
Updated: Jul 19, 2023
healwithlove
on
Sep 24, 2016
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Impeding feeling of doom, increased heart rate, sweat in the hands, fear, agitated breathing, dizzyness. It can always mix up with other diseases, and other things, is always a good idea to keep regular medical check up to discard circulatory issues, digestive issues, etc. Is better to keep it diagnosed it. And the symptoms might vary.
JustAddBlu
on
Sep 27, 2016
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Panic attacks' symptoms vary from person to person. It's different than a normal, everyday anxiety that one may have. Instead, it is often a sudden onset of high levels of anxiety and fear that can cause sweating, hyperventilation, shortness of breath, crying, numbness in limbs, and many others. If you get these attacks often, please seek out medical attention.
generousUnicorns0224
on
Oct 2, 2016
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Hyperventilation, loss of feeling in face and hands, shaky body parts, an overwhelming feeling of fear or panic, and sometimes sobbing.
Anonymous
on
Oct 6, 2016
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You feel like you can't breathe, you have shaking hands, you feel like the walls near you are coming down
majesticturtle33
on
Oct 13, 2016
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The main symptoms of panic attacks are sweating, trembling, difficulty breathing, nausea, heart palpitations and feeling overwhelming feelings of panic or anxiety.
WorkInProgress11
on
Oct 19, 2016
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The symptoms of panic attacks vary from person to person and attack to attack. I would say that the main ones are having trouble breathing or hyperventilating, racing heart, feelings of intense dread or fear, shaking or unsteady arms and legs, and nausea.
TheIrrationalBuddhist20
on
Oct 28, 2016
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Increased heart rate, hyperventilation, tightness of chest, and sense of fear. Sometimes it can be misinterpreted as a heart attack.
Lightinthewindow
on
Nov 4, 2016
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Racing heart, chest pain, shaking, trouble breathing, nausea, extreme fear, dizziness, headaches, heart palpitations
happySnow73
on
Nov 9, 2016
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sweaty palms, heart racing, thoughts everywhere, that 'I don't know what to do next' feeling, and physical pain can occur.
Anonymous
on
Nov 11, 2016
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Increased heart rate, trouble breathing, shaking, racing thoughts, wanting to run away from the situation, clammy or sweaty palms, obsessive thoughts
FaithHopeLove49
on
Nov 20, 2016
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In my experience, panic attacks can have quite a few symptoms. There is an overall feeling of anxiety, but it can present itself with physical symptoms too, such as a racing pulse, feeling sick to your stomach, shortness of breath, or even breaking out in a sweat.
Anonymous
on
Nov 20, 2016
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Everyone might experience panic attacks differently, but from my experience, I tend to feel dizzy/lightheaded. My head will pound and I sometimes feel nauseous, and my lips and tongue will start to tingle or go numb, as well as my fingers and hands. You may also experience a racing heartbeat and have trouble breathing properly.
Anonymous
on
Jan 13, 2017
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Everyone is different, but in general, there are physical symptoms and mental symptoms. The physical symptoms would be things like labored breathing or being short of breath, fast heartbeat, shaking, feeling either hot or cold, sweating or having chills, headache, muscle ache, an inability to sit still, some people even experience blurry vision. People often wring their hands or tap their feet or legs, or play with their hair or something as a response. The mental symptoms include feeling foggy, not being able to focus, feeling either extremely fatigued or extremely energetic, not being able to gather your thoughts and feeling like you're going to die or your world is falling apart. They're definitely a scary aspect of panic disorder.
RainbowAtHeart
on
Feb 8, 2017
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Usually the main symptoms are feeling as if you're choking or short of breath, increased heart rate, hot or cold flashes, fear of dying or going crazy, abdominal discomfort, nausea, dizziness, and derealisation. Having four or more of these indicates a panic attack, which will often peak in under ten minutes, but can last longer. If you experience one to four symptoms, that can be indicative of a lesser symptom anxiety attack, which peaks anywhere between one and five minutes, and teen do be very short.
Anonymous
on
Feb 16, 2017
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Panic disorder is fairly common and affects about 6 million adults in the US .Symptoms and signs include palpitations ,shaking and chest pain .Panic attack usually reach their peak in 10 minutes most attacks end in 20 -30 minutes
Sooky
on
Mar 10, 2017
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palpitations, sweating, shortness of breath, chills or hot flushes, tingling, numbness, nausea, shaking or trembling, choking sensations, dizziness
LynzeyLuHoo
on
Mar 15, 2017
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Sweaty palms, shaking, elevated heart rate (the feeling as if your heart skipped a beat), shortness of breath, & sometimes weak legs (my legs usually give out)
colourfully
on
Mar 25, 2017
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Mainly, when you are having a panic attack, it all starts with overthinking every single thing that's going on in your life, you feel really overwhelmed with those thoughts. You may start shaking, sweating and sometimes being paralyzed - you can't move, can't speak.
caringApple94
on
Apr 7, 2017
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Hyperventilation, dizziness, tunnel vision, chest pain, nausea, hot/cold flashes, sweating, Paresthesia (a tingling, burning or prickling sensation of the skin), fight or flight response, and lastly Derealization
Vronica23
on
May 3, 2017
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I think panic attacks can vary a little sometimes, but some of the tell tale signs are feeling clammy, difficulty breathing, feeling like there's pressure on your chest area. For some people it can be difficult to talk at all during panic attacks, and sometimes you can experience the thoughts that are making you feel this anxiety repeating in your head.
I think it's important to remember when we feel like we're having a panic attack to focus on our breathing. Not only does that help combat one of the main symptoms, but it also gives us something other than our thoughts to concentrate on.
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