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What are Panic Attacks?
What are Panic Attacks?
Panic attacks are a type of fear response and are often associated with anxiety disorders and post traumatic stress disorder PTSD. These attacks are intense and bring on sudden feelings of anxiety. Symptoms of panic attacks can be physical and mental. When panic attacks occur, they are not dangerous but can feel very frightening.
What does a panic attack feel like?
What does a panic attack feel like?
During a panic attack, symptoms can occur very fast and almost all at once. A person can experience:
Racing heartbeat
Dizziness or light-headedness
Feeling very hot or very cold
Sweating and/or shaking
Nausea (feeling sick)
Chest and/or stomach pain
Difficulty breathing
Feeling disconnected from your surroundings and the event that triggered the panic attack
When a panic attack is happening, it is common to feel like you’re:
Losing control
Going to faint
Going to die
Due to the symptoms associated with panic attacks, a person might become scared about going out in public alone in case a panic attack starts.
What to do if you are having a panic attack
What to do if you are having a panic attack
When a panic attack is coming on, it can feel overwheleming and like there is nothing you can do. However, there are some actions you can take to try and prevent or lessen the impact of a panic attack. Some of these ways are listed below:
do not fight it
stay where you are, if possible
breathe slowly and deeply and count your breaths
remind yourself that the attack will pass
focus on positive, peaceful and relaxing images
remember it's not life threatening
If you feel like you are struggling with anything you have read or any other aspect of mental health, then there are services out there that can help. If you need to talk to someone you can sign up here for our peer coaching service.
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