Panic Attack Symptoms

Having a panic attack  is unquestionably one of the most uncomfortable experiences people will endure in their lifetime.  Your very first panic attack can  leave you with strong anticipatory anxiety about the possible recurrence of your panic attack symptoms.

How do you know if you are having a panic attack?  Panic attack symptoms often include, but are not limited to:

Physical Symptoms of Panic Attacks

psychological effects of anxiety

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  • A pounding or racing heart
  • Pain or tightness in your chest
  • Shortness of Breath
  • Dizziness or light-headedness
  • Numbness or tingling in your fingers
  • A lump in your throat
  • The sensation of choking
  • Hot flashes or cold sweats
  • Trembling
  • Tight, tense muscles

Psychological symptoms of panic attacks

  • Feeling like you’re unreal or the world is unreal
  • Nausea, butterflies in your stomach, or the feeling that you’re about to lose control of your bowels.
  • Intense desire to run away
  • Fears of going crazy, dying, or doing something uncontrollable

Many who suffer from panic attacks are initially convinced that they have a serious medical issue, such as a heart condition or a brain tumor.  After a thorough diagnosis by one or many physicians, there never seems to be any known  illness that would explain the symptoms.  It may take many false alarm trips to the emergency room and more than one physician before one of them finally makes the correct diagnosis of panic attacks, and not the perceived serious illness.

Where do Panic Attacks Come From?

Every now and then most of us will experience  symptoms such as accelerated heart rate or tingling extremities, but we don’t pay much attention to them and they soon go away.  This is not the case for people who are prone to panic attacks, as they’ll obsess about those feelings and convince themselves that a catastrophe is imminent, which consequently triggers a panic attack.

Additional Resources About Panic Attack Symptoms:

Web MD: http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/panic-attack-symptoms

Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/panic-attacks/DS00338/DSECTION=symptoms

American Psychiatric Association: http://www.psych.org/

Anxiety Disorders Association of America: http://www.adaa.org/