âčïž Skipped - page is already crawled
| Filter | Status | Condition | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| HTTP status | PASS | download_http_code = 200 | HTTP 200 |
| Age cutoff | PASS | download_stamp > now() - 6 MONTH | 0 months ago |
| History drop | PASS | isNull(history_drop_reason) | No drop reason |
| Spam/ban | PASS | fh_dont_index != 1 AND ml_spam_score = 0 | ml_spam_score=0 |
| Canonical | PASS | meta_canonical IS NULL OR = '' OR = src_unparsed | Not set |
| Property | Value | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| URL | https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-attack-symptoms | |||||||||
| Last Crawled | 2026-04-21 23:58:27 (14 hours ago) | |||||||||
| First Indexed | 2020-12-27 19:56:43 (5 years ago) | |||||||||
| HTTP Status Code | 200 | |||||||||
| Content | ||||||||||
| Meta Title | The 12 Symptoms of a Panic Attack | |||||||||
| Meta Description | Panic attack symptoms can be emotional, cognitive, and physical. Here's the formal list and the long-term effect they have on you. | |||||||||
| Meta Canonical | null | |||||||||
| Boilerpipe Text | Your heartâs racing, itâs hard to breathe, and you canât think straight â these could be some of the intense symptoms of a panic attack.
A panic attack is an episode of sudden anxiety with an exaggerated bodily response to a threat or danger â whether itâs real or perceived.
This sudden surge of intense fear or anxiety brings on specific physical and psychological symptoms. These often reach peak intensity in just a few minutes.
Panic attack symptoms can directly respond to something shocking or scary, but they can also happen without any apparent reason. Understandably, the suddenness and lack of control can make them feel overwhelming and frightening.
For many people, panic attacks may be a one-time event. For others, it may be a recurrent thing. This usually happens in the context of a mental health condition like
panic disorder
.
But in every case, panic attacks are manageable.
The first step to managing the symptoms of a panic attack â whether occasional or frequent â is understanding them and what they feel like.
During a panic attack, you can experience physical, emotional, and cognitive symptoms all at once.
heart palpitations
sweating
trembling or shaking
shortness of breath or feeling smothered
choking sensation
chest pain
nausea or abdominal discomfort
dizziness or lightheadedness
derealization or depersonalization
fears of losing control or dying
numbness or tingling
chills or hot flashes
Heart palpitations and a racing heart
A common symptom of panic attacks is feeling your heart rate accelerating rapidly. You might feel or hear your heart beating harder or faster, or notice a pulse point thumping extra hard.
Your heart rate will typically slow down as the panic attack and symptoms subside.
Sweating
As part of the panic response, you may start sweating. This can feel uncomfortable or even embarrassing if youâre in public, but this symptom usually only lasts for a few minutes and is completely natural.
Trembling or shaking
One of the first symptoms you might experience when having a panic attack is excessive and uncontrollable trembling, or shaking in your hands and legs.
You might still tremble â although less intensely â hours after your other panic attack symptoms have ended. The trembling should ease up more and more as you recover and calm down.
While uncomfortable, this panic attack symptom doesnât usually indicate any physical problem.
Shortness of breath and smothering sensation
During a panic attack, many people hyperventilate or feel like theyâre suffocating. This can cause you to cough, gag, or even vomit.
As intense and uncomfortable as these symptoms can be, theyâre a natural response to the adrenaline rush youâre experiencing.
Try to focus on steadying your breathing by taking deep breaths in and out. Your regular breathing rate should return within 5 to 30 minutes.
Feeling of choking
As with shortness of breath, feeling like youâre choking can also result from hyperventilation. Gasping for air may intensify your panic attack symptoms.
As difficult as it can be in the midst of a panic attack, try to remember that this is a product of anxiety and not a physical condition â youâre not actually choking. This might help you regain control of your breathing and feel better sooner.
Chest pain or discomfort
Between heart palpitations and hyperventilating, you may also experience
anxiety and chest pain
. The first time this happens is often the scariest, since you may assume itâs your heart and not realize itâs anxiety.
Even though chest discomfort is a common panic attack symptom, itâs important to seek medical care if youâve never had chest pain before. This can help you rule out any underlying cardiac conditions.
A doctor can run tests and ask questions to let them know whether itâs heart-related or anxiety.
Nausea or abdominal distress
Another consequence of all that adrenaline is nausea or stomach pain. These symptoms may worsen right at the peak of the panic attack â within the first 10 minutes.
Sometimes, you may still feel nauseous hours after the attack ends. Anxiety in general can cause stomach upset.
Feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
The combination of panic attack symptoms â racing heart, hyperventilating, and fear of losing control â can lead you to feel dizzy or lightheaded.
This is a natural response to panic. You should start to feel more stability once the other symptoms disappear.
Derealization or depersonalization
As panic attack symptoms peak, you might start getting the sense that whatâs happening isnât real, or start perceiving your surroundings differently, as if youâre in a movie. This is called derealization.
You can also feel detached from yourself, as if youâre not connected to your own body. This is called
depersonalization
.
Fear of losing control
If this is one of the first panic attacks youâve experienced, the intense symptoms may lead you to feel like youâre losing control or your grasp on reality. You may also feel like everythingâs closing in on you.
These are just temporary feelings â a product of all the physiological processes going on in your body â and not an indication of your mental health.
Fear of dying
Fear of dying is one of the most common symptoms of a panic attack, especially for early attacks or for people who have panic attacks infrequently.
Between the physical symptoms and intense anxiety, you may start worrying about your personal safety. These feelings are a direct result of panic, though, so it doesnât necessarily indicate any physical or life threatening problem.
Numbness or tingling sensations
If you start feeling a pins-and-needles sensation throughout your body, it may be due to anxiety and adrenaline.
You can also feel numb or momentarily frozen. These sensations often go away within a few minutes.
Chills or heat sensations
Usually associated with excessive sweating, you can also experience chills or hot flashes. This is your body trying to adapt to the adrenaline and surge of panic.
Other panic attack symptoms and sensations
You can also experience other symptoms like crying, headaches, or vomiting. But to receive a diagnosis of a panic attack, youâll still need to have at least four of the detailed symptoms above.
During a panic attack, the dramatic physical sensations you feel (like chest pain or heart palpitations) can be so upsetting that some people mistake it for a heart attack.
The emotional and mental symptoms can be overwhelming, too. You might feel like something catastrophic will happen or that you need to escape the situation youâre in because youâre in imminent danger.
These sensations and feelings arenât always related to a specific trigger. Panic attack symptoms can take you by surprise and might even happen when youâre resting or asleep. Itâs often the suddenness of panic attacks thatâs most upsetting.
Some people experience panic attack symptoms just once, but you may also experience them several times or chronically
throughout your life
.
Some people might experience panic attack symptoms every time theyâre in a specific situation, like when they get stuck in an elevator or when speaking in public.
In some cases, panic attacks can also result from medical conditions or injuries, or even as side effects of some medications.
Not all panic attack symptoms have the same causes â and they can be both expected or unexpected.
Unexpected panic attacks
An unexpected panic attack happens suddenly without an evident reason or trigger. They can happen at any time and in any place, and you canât attach the attack to anything specific.
You could even be having a great stress-free day and suddenly experience this type of panic attack.
Unexpected panic attacks arenât usually linked to a specific thought, event, or stimulus. You could be sleeping, watching a movie, or laughing with a friend.
The unexpected aspect can make the experience more difficult to understand or feel especially frightening.
Expected panic attacks
Expected panic attacks are a result of a specific known
trigger
.
For example, if youâre afraid of small spaces and get stuck in an elevator, you might have an expected panic attack. Or you could have a panic attack while waiting to have a surgical procedure if youâve been really anxious about it.
In other words, you know
why
youâre panicking.
Expected panic attacks can be situationally cued or predisposed.
A situationally cued panic attack might be experienced immediately after exposure to a specific situation thatâs previously caused you
anxiety attacks or panic attacks
.
For example, if you fear spiders and come in contact with one, you may experience a cued panic attack.
A predisposed panic attack, on the other hand, doesnât usually happen on cue after being exposed to the situation.
For instance, you might be afraid of flying, but you donât have a panic attack every time you board a plane. Instead, you might have a panic attack before boarding, once onboard, or after you leave the plane altogether.
You might also have an expected panic attack from frightening thoughts or anxiety itself.
Symptoms of panic attacks can feel very overwhelming. If your heart is racing, youâre having trouble breathing, and on top of that, your mind is telling you that youâre dying, it might be easy to convince yourself thatâs true.
Feeling this way during a panic attack is actually pretty natural and common. But â itâs not whatâs really happening.
In a panic attack, heart palpitations, feeling like youâre choking, and lightheadedness are mostly due to the adrenaline rush and hyperventilating. This, along with your racing thoughts, can lead to even more intense physical symptoms.
While it may feel like it â youâre not really having a heart attack or life-threatening experience. In fact, panic attack symptoms arenât usually dangerous or fatal.
A rare exception to this would be if you were to faint and hit your head, or if your panic lead you to react in a certain way that might expose you to real danger. For instance, if you panicked and ran out of your house, crossing the street without checking for cars first.
These are extremely rare occurrences, though. Most people donât faint or run during panic attacks.
But while panic attacks arenât lethal, there is a chance that your long-term health may be affected by frequent attacks, particularly if you do have an underlying cardiovascular disease.
This doesnât mean you can die from a panic attack, but rather that multiple attacks can turn into a risk factor for some health conditions.
This is why itâs important to seek professional help to prevent and manage panic attack symptoms. It might also be a good idea to regularly engage in
relaxation techniques
.
Not all panic attacks have the same symptoms or the same intensity. They can vary in duration, as well.
Typical panic attacks last up to 30 minutes, with the symptoms reaching peak intensity within the first 10 minutes before easing up. But depending on how intense your symptoms are, panic attacks can seem to last much longer.
In some cases, you may also experience residual effects for hours â like a rippling effect. So you could have some less intense physical and psychological sensations for up to a day or two after the panic attack began.
Panic attacks
can
last longer or come in and out in waves for days.
In fact, some people experience panic attacks every day for weeks or months. Others may have one panic attack and then go on for months or even years without having another one.
For some people, learning how to
cope with anticipatory anxiety
and how to manage panic attack symptoms can help decrease the frequency of panic episodes.
It all starts with the amygdala â or rather amygdalae, because there are two of them, one in each brain hemisphere.
This area at the base of the brain plays an important role in behavior and emotions, particularly fear processing.
When you face a threatening stimulus, that information is sent to the amygdala. In turn, amygdalae alert other parts of your body to trigger your
fight, flight, or freeze response
.
This is a natural physiological reaction to stress that quickly allows you to respond to whatever is perceived as a life threatening situation.
At a glance, the process goes something like this:
The amygdala receives the message that there might be a danger.
The amygdala pokes the sympathetic nervous system, so the body responds to the perceived danger.
The adrenal glands release adrenaline, the fight-or-flight hormone.
Adrenaline causes your heart to race and your breathing to accelerate, among other physiological symptoms.
Your muscles start getting more blood (preparing you in case you need to run).
Your brain receives more oxygen and becomes more alert.
Youâre ready to react to the threatening situation.
This, of course, is a great reaction to have if you really
are
in danger, like if youâre running from a wild animal attack.
But other types of stressful situations can also trigger the same responses as immediate physical danger â such as a big presentation at school if you fear public speaking.
But during a panic attack, just the perception of danger is enough for your body to respond. Also, the physiological reaction is
way
more intense than youâd really need it to be in order to respond to a threat.
You breathe even faster, and your heart pumps even more blood. This, in turn, causes you to experience other physical symptoms such as lightheadedness, hyperventilation, tunnel vision, chest pain, and numbness in parts of your body.
Itâs not clear why the body overreacts this way in certain situations, leading you to panic.
Consider seeking out a healthcare professional â your primary doctor or a mental health professional â if youâre:
finding it difficult to make it through the day and your symptoms are interfering with your relationships, work, or any other daily activities
having recurrent physical symptoms, such as insomnia, heart palpitations, headaches, or any form of pain
using substances to cope with your anxiety and physical symptoms
having panic attacks after sustaining an injury or being diagnosed with a medical condition
staying home despite having responsibilities that require you to leave the house
interested in better understanding your symptoms or would like to be screened for diagnosis
interested in learning the best ways to self-manage your symptoms or the various treatment options for panic attacks | |||||||||
| Markdown | - Conditions
Featured
[All](https://www.psychcentral.com/conditions)
- [Addictions](https://www.psychcentral.com/addictions)
- [Anxiety Disorder](https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety)
- [ADHD](https://www.psychcentral.com/adhd)
- [Bipolar Disorder](https://www.psychcentral.com/bipolar)
- [Depression](https://www.psychcentral.com/depression)
- [PTSD](https://www.psychcentral.com/ptsd)
- [Schizophrenia](https://www.psychcentral.com/schizophrenia)
Articles
[All](https://www.psychcentral.com/disorders/disorders)
- [Adjustment Disorder](https://www.psychcentral.com/disorders/adjustment-disorder-symptoms)
- [Agoraphobia](https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/agoraphobia-symptoms)
- [Antisocial Personality Disorder](https://www.psychcentral.com/disorders/antisocial-personality-disorder)
- [Borderline Personality Disorder](https://www.psychcentral.com/disorders/borderline-personality-disorder)
- [Childhood ADHD](https://www.psychcentral.com/childhood-adhd/childhood-adhd)
- [Dissociative Identity Disorder](https://www.psychcentral.com/disorders/dissociative-identity-disorder)
- [Narcissistic Personality Disorder](https://www.psychcentral.com/disorders/narcissistic-personality-disorder)
- [Narcolepsy](https://www.psychcentral.com/disorders/narcolepsy-symptoms)
- [Oppositional Defiant Disorder](https://www.psychcentral.com/disorders/oppositional-defiant-disorder-symptoms)
- [Panic Attack](https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-attack-symptoms)
- [Postpartum Depression](https://www.psychcentral.com/depression/postpartum-depression)
- [Schizoaffective Disorder](https://www.psychcentral.com/disorders/schizoaffective-disorder-symptoms)
- [Seasonal Affective Disorder](https://www.psychcentral.com/depression/seasonal-affective-disorder)
- [Sex Addiction](https://www.psychcentral.com/lib/what-is-sexual-addiction)
- [Social Anxiety](https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/social-anxiety-disorder-symptoms)
- [Specific Phobias](https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/specific-phobia-symptoms)
- [Teenage Depression](https://www.psychcentral.com/lib/teenage-depression)
- [Trauma](https://www.psychcentral.com/health/what-is-trauma)
- Discover
Wellness Topics
- [Black Mental Health](https://www.psychcentral.com/program/black-mental-health)
- [Grief](https://www.psychcentral.com/health/refuge-in-grief)
- [Emotional Health](https://www.psychcentral.com/program/emotional-health)
- [Sex & Relationships](https://www.psychcentral.com/relationships)
- [Trauma](https://www.psychcentral.com/program/trauma)
- [Understanding Therapy](https://www.psychcentral.com/program/understanding-therapy)
- [Workplace Mental Health](https://www.psychcentral.com/program/mental-health-at-work)
Original Series
- [My Life with OCD](https://www.psychcentral.com/content-series/my-life-with-ocd)
- [Caregivers Chronicles](https://www.psychcentral.com/content-series/caregivers-chronicles)
- [Empathy at Work](https://www.psychcentral.com/content-series/empathy-at-work)
- [Sex, Love & All of the Above](https://www.psychcentral.com/content-series/sex-love-and-all-of-the-above)
- [Parent Central](https://www.psychcentral.com/content-series/parent-central)
- [Mindful Moment](https://www.psychcentral.com/health/mindful-moment-awakening-power-of-hope)
News & Events
- [Mental Health News](https://www.psychcentral.com/news)
- [COVID-19](https://www.psychcentral.com/coronavirus/coronavirus-overview)
- [Live Town Hall: Mental Health in Focus](https://www.healthline.com/health/healthline-live-town-hall-mental-health-in-focus)
Podcasts
- [Inside Mental Health](https://www.psychcentral.com/blog/show)
- [Inside Schizophrenia](https://www.psychcentral.com/blog/is)
- [Inside Bipolar](https://www.psychcentral.com/blog/ibp)
- Quizzes
Conditions
- [ADHD Symptoms Quiz](https://www.psychcentral.com/quizzes/adhd-quiz)
- [Anxiety Symptoms Quiz](https://www.psychcentral.com/quizzes/anxiety-quiz)
- [Autism Quiz: Family & Friends](https://www.psychcentral.com/quizzes/autism-quiz)
- [Autism Symptoms Quiz](https://www.psychcentral.com/quizzes/autism-test)
- [Bipolar Disorder Quiz](https://www.psychcentral.com/quizzes/bipolar-quiz)
- [Borderline Personality Test](https://www.psychcentral.com/quizzes/borderline-test)
- [Childhood ADHD Quiz](https://www.psychcentral.com/quizzes/child-adhd-quiz)
- [Depression Symptoms Quiz](https://www.psychcentral.com/quizzes/depression-quiz)
- [Eating Disorder Quiz](https://www.psychcentral.com/quizzes/eating-disorders-quiz)
- [Narcissism Symptoms Test](https://www.psychcentral.com/quizzes/narcissistic-personality-quiz)
- [OCD Symptoms Quiz](https://www.psychcentral.com/quizzes/ocd-quiz)
- [Psychopathy Test](https://www.psychcentral.com/quizzes/psychopathy-quiz)
- [PTSD Symptoms Quiz](https://www.psychcentral.com/quizzes/ptsd-quiz)
- [Schizophrenia Quiz](https://www.psychcentral.com/quizzes/schizophrenia-test)
Lifestyle
[All](https://www.psychcentral.com/program/quizzes)
- [Attachment Style Quiz](https://www.psychcentral.com/quizzes/attachment-style-quiz)
- [Career Test](https://www.psychcentral.com/quizzes/career-test)
- [Do I Need Therapy Quiz?](https://www.psychcentral.com/quizzes/therapy-quiz)
- [Domestic Violence Screening Quiz](https://www.psychcentral.com/quizzes/domestic-violence-quiz)
- [Emotional Type Quiz](https://www.psychcentral.com/quizzes/emotional-type-quiz)
- [Loneliness Quiz](https://www.psychcentral.com/quizzes/loneliness-quiz)
- [Parenting Style Quiz](https://www.psychcentral.com/quizzes/parenting-style-quiz)
- [Personality Test](https://www.psychcentral.com/quizzes/personality-quiz)
- [Relationship Quiz](https://www.psychcentral.com/quizzes/love-quiz)
- [Stress Test](https://www.psychcentral.com/quizzes/stress-test)
- [What's Your Sleep Like?](https://www.psychcentral.com/quizzes/sleep-quiz)
- Resources
Treatment & Support
- [Find Support](https://www.psychcentral.com/program/how-to-find-mental-health-support)
- [Suicide Prevention](https://www.psychcentral.com/lib/suicide-prevention-hotline-number)
- [Drugs & Medications](https://www.psychcentral.com/drugs/drugs)
- [Find a Therapist](https://care.healthline.com/find-care/specialty/mental-health-professional?&utm_source=pc&utm_medium=editorial&utm_campaign=mentalwellbeing&utm_content=textwidget&utm_term=homepage-resources&redirected=true)
Subscribe
[Anxiety](https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety)
- [Quiz](https://www.psychcentral.com/quizzes/anxiety-quiz)
- [Symptoms](https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/anxiety-disorders)
- [Causes](https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/causes-of-anxiety-disorders)
- [Treatment](https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-treatment)
- [Find Support](https://www.psychcentral.com/program/how-to-find-mental-health-support)
# What Does a Panic Attack Feel Like? 12 Symptoms
Medically reviewed by [Nathan Greene, PsyD](https://www.psychcentral.com/reviewers/nathan-greene-psyd) â Written by [Sandra Silva](https://www.psychcentral.com/authors/sandra-silva) â Updated on July 12, 2022
- [Panic attack symptoms](https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-attack-symptoms#panic-attack-symptoms)
- [How does a panic attack feel like?](https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-attack-symptoms#how-does-a-panic-attack-feel-like)
- [Types](https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-attack-symptoms#types)
- [Can you die?](https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-attack-symptoms#can-you-die)
- [Duration](https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-attack-symptoms#duration)
- [Biology of a panic attack](https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-attack-symptoms#biology-of-a-panic-attack)
- [When to see a doctor](https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-attack-symptoms#when-to-see-a-doctor)
Your heartâs racing, itâs hard to breathe, and you canât think straight â these could be some of the intense symptoms of a panic attack.
A panic attack is an episode of sudden anxiety with an exaggerated bodily response to a threat or danger â whether itâs real or perceived.
This sudden surge of intense fear or anxiety brings on specific physical and psychological symptoms. These often reach peak intensity in just a few minutes.
Panic attack symptoms can directly respond to something shocking or scary, but they can also happen without any apparent reason. Understandably, the suddenness and lack of control can make them feel overwhelming and frightening.
For many people, panic attacks may be a one-time event. For others, it may be a recurrent thing. This usually happens in the context of a mental health condition like [panic disorder](https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-disorder-overview/).
But in every case, panic attacks are manageable.
The first step to managing the symptoms of a panic attack â whether occasional or frequent â is understanding them and what they feel like.
## [Symptoms of panic attacks]()
During a panic attack, you can experience physical, emotional, and cognitive symptoms all at once.
According to the [Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR)](https://psychcentral.com/dsm-5/), if you experience four or more of the following panic attack symptoms, the incident will receive a formal diagnosis:
1. heart palpitations
2. sweating
3. trembling or shaking
4. shortness of breath or feeling smothered
5. choking sensation
6. chest pain
7. nausea or abdominal discomfort
8. dizziness or lightheadedness
9. derealization or depersonalization
10. fears of losing control or dying
11. numbness or tingling
12. chills or hot flashes
### Heart palpitations and a racing heart
A common symptom of panic attacks is feeling your heart rate accelerating rapidly. You might feel or hear your heart beating harder or faster, or notice a pulse point thumping extra hard.
Your heart rate will typically slow down as the panic attack and symptoms subside.
### Sweating
As part of the panic response, you may start sweating. This can feel uncomfortable or even embarrassing if youâre in public, but this symptom usually only lasts for a few minutes and is completely natural.
### Trembling or shaking
One of the first symptoms you might experience when having a panic attack is excessive and uncontrollable trembling, or shaking in your hands and legs.
You might still tremble â although less intensely â hours after your other panic attack symptoms have ended. The trembling should ease up more and more as you recover and calm down.
While uncomfortable, this panic attack symptom doesnât usually indicate any physical problem.
### Shortness of breath and smothering sensation
During a panic attack, many people hyperventilate or feel like theyâre suffocating. This can cause you to cough, gag, or even vomit.
As intense and uncomfortable as these symptoms can be, theyâre a natural response to the adrenaline rush youâre experiencing.
Try to focus on steadying your breathing by taking deep breaths in and out. Your regular breathing rate should return within 5 to 30 minutes.
### Feeling of choking
As with shortness of breath, feeling like youâre choking can also result from hyperventilation. Gasping for air may intensify your panic attack symptoms.
As difficult as it can be in the midst of a panic attack, try to remember that this is a product of anxiety and not a physical condition â youâre not actually choking. This might help you regain control of your breathing and feel better sooner.
### Chest pain or discomfort
Between heart palpitations and hyperventilating, you may also experience [anxiety and chest pain](https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/can-anxiety-cause-chest-pain). The first time this happens is often the scariest, since you may assume itâs your heart and not realize itâs anxiety.
Even though chest discomfort is a common panic attack symptom, itâs important to seek medical care if youâve never had chest pain before. This can help you rule out any underlying cardiac conditions.
A doctor can run tests and ask questions to let them know whether itâs heart-related or anxiety.
### Nausea or abdominal distress
Another consequence of all that adrenaline is nausea or stomach pain. These symptoms may worsen right at the peak of the panic attack â within the first 10 minutes.
Sometimes, you may still feel nauseous hours after the attack ends. Anxiety in general can cause stomach upset.
### Feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
The combination of panic attack symptoms â racing heart, hyperventilating, and fear of losing control â can lead you to feel dizzy or lightheaded.
This is a natural response to panic. You should start to feel more stability once the other symptoms disappear.
### Derealization or depersonalization
As panic attack symptoms peak, you might start getting the sense that whatâs happening isnât real, or start perceiving your surroundings differently, as if youâre in a movie. This is called derealization.
You can also feel detached from yourself, as if youâre not connected to your own body. This is called [depersonalization](https://psychcentral.com/disorders/depersonalization-derealization-disorder-symptoms/).
### Fear of losing control
If this is one of the first panic attacks youâve experienced, the intense symptoms may lead you to feel like youâre losing control or your grasp on reality. You may also feel like everythingâs closing in on you.
These are just temporary feelings â a product of all the physiological processes going on in your body â and not an indication of your mental health.
### Fear of dying
Fear of dying is one of the most common symptoms of a panic attack, especially for early attacks or for people who have panic attacks infrequently.
Between the physical symptoms and intense anxiety, you may start worrying about your personal safety. These feelings are a direct result of panic, though, so it doesnât necessarily indicate any physical or life threatening problem.
### Numbness or tingling sensations
If you start feeling a pins-and-needles sensation throughout your body, it may be due to anxiety and adrenaline.
You can also feel numb or momentarily frozen. These sensations often go away within a few minutes.
### Chills or heat sensations
Usually associated with excessive sweating, you can also experience chills or hot flashes. This is your body trying to adapt to the adrenaline and surge of panic.
### Other panic attack symptoms and sensations
You can also experience other symptoms like crying, headaches, or vomiting. But to receive a diagnosis of a panic attack, youâll still need to have at least four of the detailed symptoms above.
## [How does a panic attack feel like?]()
During a panic attack, the dramatic physical sensations you feel (like chest pain or heart palpitations) can be so upsetting that some people mistake it for a heart attack.
The emotional and mental symptoms can be overwhelming, too. You might feel like something catastrophic will happen or that you need to escape the situation youâre in because youâre in imminent danger.
These sensations and feelings arenât always related to a specific trigger. Panic attack symptoms can take you by surprise and might even happen when youâre resting or asleep. Itâs often the suddenness of panic attacks thatâs most upsetting.
Some people experience panic attack symptoms just once, but you may also experience them several times or chronically [throughout your life](https://psychcentral.com/lib/living-with-panic-attacks#1).
## [Types of panic attacks]()
Some people might experience panic attack symptoms every time theyâre in a specific situation, like when they get stuck in an elevator or when speaking in public.
In some cases, panic attacks can also result from medical conditions or injuries, or even as side effects of some medications.
Not all panic attack symptoms have the same causes â and they can be both expected or unexpected.
### Unexpected panic attacks
An unexpected panic attack happens suddenly without an evident reason or trigger. They can happen at any time and in any place, and you canât attach the attack to anything specific.
You could even be having a great stress-free day and suddenly experience this type of panic attack.
Unexpected panic attacks arenât usually linked to a specific thought, event, or stimulus. You could be sleeping, watching a movie, or laughing with a friend.
The unexpected aspect can make the experience more difficult to understand or feel especially frightening.
### Expected panic attacks
Expected panic attacks are a result of a specific known [trigger](https://psychcentral.com/lib/what-is-a-trigger/).
For example, if youâre afraid of small spaces and get stuck in an elevator, you might have an expected panic attack. Or you could have a panic attack while waiting to have a surgical procedure if youâve been really anxious about it.
In other words, you know *why* youâre panicking.
Expected panic attacks can be situationally cued or predisposed.
A situationally cued panic attack might be experienced immediately after exposure to a specific situation thatâs previously caused you [anxiety attacks or panic attacks](https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-attack-vs-anxiety-attack-whats-the-difference).
For example, if you fear spiders and come in contact with one, you may experience a cued panic attack.
A predisposed panic attack, on the other hand, doesnât usually happen on cue after being exposed to the situation.
For instance, you might be afraid of flying, but you donât have a panic attack every time you board a plane. Instead, you might have a panic attack before boarding, once onboard, or after you leave the plane altogether.
You might also have an expected panic attack from frightening thoughts or anxiety itself.
## [Can you die from a panic attack?]()
Symptoms of panic attacks can feel very overwhelming. If your heart is racing, youâre having trouble breathing, and on top of that, your mind is telling you that youâre dying, it might be easy to convince yourself thatâs true.
Feeling this way during a panic attack is actually pretty natural and common. But â itâs not whatâs really happening.
In a panic attack, heart palpitations, feeling like youâre choking, and lightheadedness are mostly due to the adrenaline rush and hyperventilating. This, along with your racing thoughts, can lead to even more intense physical symptoms.
While it may feel like it â youâre not really having a heart attack or life-threatening experience. In fact, panic attack symptoms arenât usually dangerous or fatal.
A rare exception to this would be if you were to faint and hit your head, or if your panic lead you to react in a certain way that might expose you to real danger. For instance, if you panicked and ran out of your house, crossing the street without checking for cars first.
These are extremely rare occurrences, though. Most people donât faint or run during panic attacks.
But while panic attacks arenât lethal, there is a chance that your long-term health may be affected by frequent attacks, particularly if you do have an underlying cardiovascular disease.
This doesnât mean you can die from a panic attack, but rather that multiple attacks can turn into a risk factor for some health conditions.
This is why itâs important to seek professional help to prevent and manage panic attack symptoms. It might also be a good idea to regularly engage in [relaxation techniques](https://psychcentral.com/lib/relaxation-exercises-and-techniques/).
## [How long do panic attacks last?]()
Not all panic attacks have the same symptoms or the same intensity. They can vary in duration, as well.
Typical panic attacks last up to 30 minutes, with the symptoms reaching peak intensity within the first 10 minutes before easing up. But depending on how intense your symptoms are, panic attacks can seem to last much longer.
In some cases, you may also experience residual effects for hours â like a rippling effect. So you could have some less intense physical and psychological sensations for up to a day or two after the panic attack began.
Panic attacks *can* last longer or come in and out in waves for days.
In fact, some people experience panic attacks every day for weeks or months. Others may have one panic attack and then go on for months or even years without having another one.
For some people, learning how to [cope with anticipatory anxiety](https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/what-is-anticipatory-anxiety/) and how to manage panic attack symptoms can help decrease the frequency of panic episodes.
## [Biological processes of panic attacks]()
It all starts with the amygdala â or rather amygdalae, because there are two of them, one in each brain hemisphere.
This area at the base of the brain plays an important role in behavior and emotions, particularly fear processing.
When you face a threatening stimulus, that information is sent to the amygdala. In turn, amygdalae alert other parts of your body to trigger your [fight, flight, or freeze response](https://psychcentral.com/blog/fight-flight-or-freeze-the-stress-response).
This is a natural physiological reaction to stress that quickly allows you to respond to whatever is perceived as a life threatening situation.
At a glance, the process goes something like this:
1. The amygdala receives the message that there might be a danger.
2. The amygdala pokes the sympathetic nervous system, so the body responds to the perceived danger.
3. The adrenal glands release adrenaline, the fight-or-flight hormone.
4. Adrenaline causes your heart to race and your breathing to accelerate, among other physiological symptoms.
5. Your muscles start getting more blood (preparing you in case you need to run).
6. Your brain receives more oxygen and becomes more alert.
7. Youâre ready to react to the threatening situation.
This, of course, is a great reaction to have if you really *are* in danger, like if youâre running from a wild animal attack.
But other types of stressful situations can also trigger the same responses as immediate physical danger â such as a big presentation at school if you fear public speaking.
But during a panic attack, just the perception of danger is enough for your body to respond. Also, the physiological reaction is *way* more intense than youâd really need it to be in order to respond to a threat.
You breathe even faster, and your heart pumps even more blood. This, in turn, causes you to experience other physical symptoms such as lightheadedness, hyperventilation, tunnel vision, chest pain, and numbness in parts of your body.
Itâs not clear why the body overreacts this way in certain situations, leading you to panic.
## [When to see a doctor]()
Consider seeking out a healthcare professional â your primary doctor or a mental health professional â if youâre:
- finding it difficult to make it through the day and your symptoms are interfering with your relationships, work, or any other daily activities
- having recurrent physical symptoms, such as insomnia, heart palpitations, headaches, or any form of pain
- using substances to cope with your anxiety and physical symptoms
- having panic attacks after sustaining an injury or being diagnosed with a medical condition
- staying home despite having responsibilities that require you to leave the house
- interested in better understanding your symptoms or would like to be screened for diagnosis
- interested in learning the best ways to self-manage your symptoms or the various treatment options for panic attacks
11 sourcescollapsed
- Cackovic C, et al. (2020). Panic disorder.
<https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430973/>
- Carleton RN, et al. (2014). âBut it might be a heart attackâ: Intolerance of uncertainty and panic disorder symptoms.
<https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0887618514000620>
- Davis M, et al. (2000). The amygdala: Vigilance and emotion.
<https://www.nature.com/articles/4000812>
- de Jonge P, et al. (2016). Crossânational epidemiology of panic disorder and panic attacks in the world mental health surveys.
<https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/da.22572>
- Facts and statistics. (n.d.).
<https://adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics>
- Fleet R, et al. (2005). Myocardial perfusion study of panic attacks in patients with coronary artery disease.
<https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002914905011641>
- Kessler RC, et al. (2006). The epidemiology of panic attacks, panic disorder, and agoraphobia in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication.
<https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1958997/>
- Kim JE, et al. (2012). The role of the amygdala in the pathophysiology of panic disorder: Evidence from neuroimaging studies.
<https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/2045-5380-2-20>
- Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. (2016).
<https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519704/table/ch3.t10/>
- Panic disorder: When fear overwhelms. (2016).
<https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/panic-disorder-when-fear-overwhelms/index.shtml>
- Tully PJ, et al. (2017). A new CBT model of panic attack treatment in comorbid heart diseases (PATCHD): How to calm an anxious heart and mind.
<https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1077722916300402>
[FEEDBACK:]()
Medically reviewed by [Nathan Greene, PsyD](https://www.psychcentral.com/reviewers/nathan-greene-psyd) â Written by [Sandra Silva](https://www.psychcentral.com/authors/sandra-silva) â Updated on July 12, 2022
## RELATED
- [Tips to Cope with a Panic Attack](https://www.psychcentral.com/lib/tips-to-cope-with-a-panic-attack?utm_source=ReadNext)
- [Experience Frequent Panic Attacks? You Might Be Living with Panic Disorder](https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/living-with-panic-attacks?utm_source=ReadNext)
- [Panic Disorder Symptoms](https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-disorder-symptoms?utm_source=ReadNext)
- [Podcast: Does âTherapy Speakâ Hurt Relationships?](https://www.psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-does-therapy-speak-hurt-relationships?utm_source=ReadNext)
- [Podcast: Rethinking Narcissism: What Social Media Gets Wrong with Kati Morton](https://www.psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-rethinking-narcissism-what-social-media-gets-wrong-with-kati-morton?utm_source=ReadNext)
### Read this next
- [Tips to Cope with a Panic Attack](https://www.psychcentral.com/lib/tips-to-cope-with-a-panic-attack?utm_source=ReadNext)
[A panic attack is a sudden rush of physical symptoms â like shortness of breath, muscle spasms, and nausea](https://www.psychcentral.com/lib/tips-to-cope-with-a-panic-attack?utm_source=ReadNext)
[READ MORE](https://www.psychcentral.com/lib/tips-to-cope-with-a-panic-attack?utm_source=ReadNext)
- [Experience Frequent Panic Attacks? You Might Be Living with Panic Disorder](https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/living-with-panic-attacks?utm_source=ReadNext)
Medically reviewed by [Jeffrey Ditzell, DO](https://www.psychcentral.com/medical-team)
[If you live with panic disorder, you might feel like fear of the next panic attack keeps you from living your life. How can coping strategies help?](https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/living-with-panic-attacks?utm_source=ReadNext)
[READ MORE](https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/living-with-panic-attacks?utm_source=ReadNext)
- [Panic Disorder Symptoms](https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-disorder-symptoms?utm_source=ReadNext)
Medically reviewed by [Akilah Reynolds, PhD](https://www.psychcentral.com/medical-team)
[People with panic disorder have feelings of intense fear that strike suddenly and repeatedly without warning. The frequency and severity of panicâŠ](https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-disorder-symptoms?utm_source=ReadNext)
[READ MORE](https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-disorder-symptoms?utm_source=ReadNext)
- [Podcast: Does âTherapy Speakâ Hurt Relationships?](https://www.psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-does-therapy-speak-hurt-relationships?utm_source=ReadNext)
[How social media is turning people into armchair psychologists is discussed on the Inside Mental Health podcast. Listen Now\!](https://www.psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-does-therapy-speak-hurt-relationships?utm_source=ReadNext)
[READ MORE](https://www.psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-does-therapy-speak-hurt-relationships?utm_source=ReadNext)
- [Podcast: Rethinking Narcissism: What Social Media Gets Wrong with Kati Morton](https://www.psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-rethinking-narcissism-what-social-media-gets-wrong-with-kati-morton?utm_source=ReadNext)
[Not your stereotypical narcissism discussion featuring a licensed therapist guest expert on this episode of the Inside Mental Health podcast. ListenâŠ](https://www.psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-rethinking-narcissism-what-social-media-gets-wrong-with-kati-morton?utm_source=ReadNext)
[READ MORE](https://www.psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-rethinking-narcissism-what-social-media-gets-wrong-with-kati-morton?utm_source=ReadNext)
- [Podcast: New Yearâs Resolutions Fail Because We Set Them Wrong](https://www.psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-new-years-resolutions-fail-because-we-set-them-wrong?utm_source=ReadNext)
[Why your resolutions failed â and what you can do instead is explored on this episode of the Inside Mental Health podcast\!](https://www.psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-new-years-resolutions-fail-because-we-set-them-wrong?utm_source=ReadNext)
[READ MORE](https://www.psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-new-years-resolutions-fail-because-we-set-them-wrong?utm_source=ReadNext)
- [Podcast: Why Negative Self-Talk Feels True (And How to Stop Believing It)](https://www.psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-why-negative-self-talk-feels-true-and-how-to-stop-believing-it?utm_source=ReadNext)
[Why âjust think positiveâ doesnât stop negative self-talk is explored on this Inside Mental Health podcast episode. Listen\!](https://www.psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-why-negative-self-talk-feels-true-and-how-to-stop-believing-it?utm_source=ReadNext)
[READ MORE](https://www.psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-why-negative-self-talk-feels-true-and-how-to-stop-believing-it?utm_source=ReadNext)
- [Podcast: Antisocial Myth: The Case for Leaving Early](https://www.psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-antisocial-myth-the-case-for-leaving-early?utm_source=ReadNext)
[Is it possible you are an âexperience minimalistâ and not antisocial? Learn more on this episode of the Inside Mental Health podcast.](https://www.psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-antisocial-myth-the-case-for-leaving-early?utm_source=ReadNext)
[READ MORE](https://www.psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-antisocial-myth-the-case-for-leaving-early?utm_source=ReadNext)
- [Podcast: Conquering Social Anxiety in College](https://www.psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-conquering-social-anxiety-in-college?utm_source=ReadNext)
[Avoiding parties or hiding in class? Learn to step boldly into social situations in this podcast episode. Listen now with Gabe Howard. Inside MentalâŠ](https://www.psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-conquering-social-anxiety-in-college?utm_source=ReadNext)
[READ MORE](https://www.psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-conquering-social-anxiety-in-college?utm_source=ReadNext)
- [Podcast: Crafting Goals That Stick: Your Blueprint to Thrive](https://www.psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-crafting-goals-that-stick-your-blueprint-to-thrive?utm_source=ReadNext)
[Meet your goals using the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-limited) method. Listen to this Inside Mental Health podcastâŠ](https://www.psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-crafting-goals-that-stick-your-blueprint-to-thrive?utm_source=ReadNext)
[READ MORE](https://www.psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-crafting-goals-that-stick-your-blueprint-to-thrive?utm_source=ReadNext)
© 2026 Psych Central, a Healthline Media Company. All rights reserved. Healthline Media is an RVO Health Company. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Psych Central does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. [See additional information](https://www.psychcentral.com/about/additional-information).
- [About Us](https://www.psychcentral.com/about)
- [Contact Us](https://www.psychcentral.com/about/contact-us)
- [Terms of Use](https://www.psychcentral.com/about/terms)
- [Privacy policy](https://www.psychcentral.com/about/privacy)
- Privacy Settings
- [Advertising Policy](https://www.psychcentral.com/about/advertising-policy)
- [Medical Affairs](https://www.psychcentral.com/about/medical-team)
- [Content Integrity](https://www.psychcentral.com/about/content-integrity)
- [Newsletter](https://www.psychcentral.com/newsletter)
- [Find a Therapist](https://www.psychcentral.com/find-help)
- [Your Privacy Choices](https://privacyportal.onetrust.com/webform/b45407c6-ee79-4a08-912e-02ce898f9a14/8f420b32-53af-4399-935d-32eb9b61201e)
- © 2026 Psych Central, a Healthline Media Company. All rights reserved. Healthline Media is an RVO Health Company. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Psych Central does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. [See additional information](https://www.psychcentral.com/about/additional-information).
© 2026 Psych Central, a Healthline Media Company. All rights reserved. Healthline Media is an RVO Health Company. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Psych Central does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. [See additional information](https://www.psychcentral.com/about/additional-information).
[About](https://www.healthlinemedia.com/?utm_source=psychcentral.com&utm_medium=site&utm_campaign=footer&utm_content=about)[Careers](https://rvohealth.com/careers)[Advertise with us](https://www.healthlinemedia.com/advertise?utm_source=psychcentral.com&utm_medium=site&utm_campaign=footer&utm_content=advertise)
OUR BRANDS
[Healthline](https://www.healthline.com/)[Medical News Today](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/)[Greatist](https://greatist.com/)[Psych Central](https://psychcentral.com/)[Bezzy](https://bezzy.com/)
 | |||||||||
| Readable Markdown | Your heartâs racing, itâs hard to breathe, and you canât think straight â these could be some of the intense symptoms of a panic attack.
A panic attack is an episode of sudden anxiety with an exaggerated bodily response to a threat or danger â whether itâs real or perceived.
This sudden surge of intense fear or anxiety brings on specific physical and psychological symptoms. These often reach peak intensity in just a few minutes.
Panic attack symptoms can directly respond to something shocking or scary, but they can also happen without any apparent reason. Understandably, the suddenness and lack of control can make them feel overwhelming and frightening.
For many people, panic attacks may be a one-time event. For others, it may be a recurrent thing. This usually happens in the context of a mental health condition like [panic disorder](https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-disorder-overview/).
But in every case, panic attacks are manageable.
The first step to managing the symptoms of a panic attack â whether occasional or frequent â is understanding them and what they feel like.
During a panic attack, you can experience physical, emotional, and cognitive symptoms all at once.
1. heart palpitations
2. sweating
3. trembling or shaking
4. shortness of breath or feeling smothered
5. choking sensation
6. chest pain
7. nausea or abdominal discomfort
8. dizziness or lightheadedness
9. derealization or depersonalization
10. fears of losing control or dying
11. numbness or tingling
12. chills or hot flashes
Heart palpitations and a racing heart
A common symptom of panic attacks is feeling your heart rate accelerating rapidly. You might feel or hear your heart beating harder or faster, or notice a pulse point thumping extra hard.
Your heart rate will typically slow down as the panic attack and symptoms subside.
Sweating
As part of the panic response, you may start sweating. This can feel uncomfortable or even embarrassing if youâre in public, but this symptom usually only lasts for a few minutes and is completely natural.
Trembling or shaking
One of the first symptoms you might experience when having a panic attack is excessive and uncontrollable trembling, or shaking in your hands and legs.
You might still tremble â although less intensely â hours after your other panic attack symptoms have ended. The trembling should ease up more and more as you recover and calm down.
While uncomfortable, this panic attack symptom doesnât usually indicate any physical problem.
Shortness of breath and smothering sensation
During a panic attack, many people hyperventilate or feel like theyâre suffocating. This can cause you to cough, gag, or even vomit.
As intense and uncomfortable as these symptoms can be, theyâre a natural response to the adrenaline rush youâre experiencing.
Try to focus on steadying your breathing by taking deep breaths in and out. Your regular breathing rate should return within 5 to 30 minutes.
Feeling of choking
As with shortness of breath, feeling like youâre choking can also result from hyperventilation. Gasping for air may intensify your panic attack symptoms.
As difficult as it can be in the midst of a panic attack, try to remember that this is a product of anxiety and not a physical condition â youâre not actually choking. This might help you regain control of your breathing and feel better sooner.
Chest pain or discomfort
Between heart palpitations and hyperventilating, you may also experience [anxiety and chest pain](https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/can-anxiety-cause-chest-pain). The first time this happens is often the scariest, since you may assume itâs your heart and not realize itâs anxiety.
Even though chest discomfort is a common panic attack symptom, itâs important to seek medical care if youâve never had chest pain before. This can help you rule out any underlying cardiac conditions.
A doctor can run tests and ask questions to let them know whether itâs heart-related or anxiety.
Nausea or abdominal distress
Another consequence of all that adrenaline is nausea or stomach pain. These symptoms may worsen right at the peak of the panic attack â within the first 10 minutes.
Sometimes, you may still feel nauseous hours after the attack ends. Anxiety in general can cause stomach upset.
Feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
The combination of panic attack symptoms â racing heart, hyperventilating, and fear of losing control â can lead you to feel dizzy or lightheaded.
This is a natural response to panic. You should start to feel more stability once the other symptoms disappear.
Derealization or depersonalization
As panic attack symptoms peak, you might start getting the sense that whatâs happening isnât real, or start perceiving your surroundings differently, as if youâre in a movie. This is called derealization.
You can also feel detached from yourself, as if youâre not connected to your own body. This is called [depersonalization](https://psychcentral.com/disorders/depersonalization-derealization-disorder-symptoms/).
Fear of losing control
If this is one of the first panic attacks youâve experienced, the intense symptoms may lead you to feel like youâre losing control or your grasp on reality. You may also feel like everythingâs closing in on you.
These are just temporary feelings â a product of all the physiological processes going on in your body â and not an indication of your mental health.
Fear of dying
Fear of dying is one of the most common symptoms of a panic attack, especially for early attacks or for people who have panic attacks infrequently.
Between the physical symptoms and intense anxiety, you may start worrying about your personal safety. These feelings are a direct result of panic, though, so it doesnât necessarily indicate any physical or life threatening problem.
Numbness or tingling sensations
If you start feeling a pins-and-needles sensation throughout your body, it may be due to anxiety and adrenaline.
You can also feel numb or momentarily frozen. These sensations often go away within a few minutes.
Chills or heat sensations
Usually associated with excessive sweating, you can also experience chills or hot flashes. This is your body trying to adapt to the adrenaline and surge of panic.
Other panic attack symptoms and sensations
You can also experience other symptoms like crying, headaches, or vomiting. But to receive a diagnosis of a panic attack, youâll still need to have at least four of the detailed symptoms above.
During a panic attack, the dramatic physical sensations you feel (like chest pain or heart palpitations) can be so upsetting that some people mistake it for a heart attack.
The emotional and mental symptoms can be overwhelming, too. You might feel like something catastrophic will happen or that you need to escape the situation youâre in because youâre in imminent danger.
These sensations and feelings arenât always related to a specific trigger. Panic attack symptoms can take you by surprise and might even happen when youâre resting or asleep. Itâs often the suddenness of panic attacks thatâs most upsetting.
Some people experience panic attack symptoms just once, but you may also experience them several times or chronically [throughout your life](https://psychcentral.com/lib/living-with-panic-attacks#1).
Some people might experience panic attack symptoms every time theyâre in a specific situation, like when they get stuck in an elevator or when speaking in public.
In some cases, panic attacks can also result from medical conditions or injuries, or even as side effects of some medications.
Not all panic attack symptoms have the same causes â and they can be both expected or unexpected.
Unexpected panic attacks
An unexpected panic attack happens suddenly without an evident reason or trigger. They can happen at any time and in any place, and you canât attach the attack to anything specific.
You could even be having a great stress-free day and suddenly experience this type of panic attack.
Unexpected panic attacks arenât usually linked to a specific thought, event, or stimulus. You could be sleeping, watching a movie, or laughing with a friend.
The unexpected aspect can make the experience more difficult to understand or feel especially frightening.
Expected panic attacks
Expected panic attacks are a result of a specific known [trigger](https://psychcentral.com/lib/what-is-a-trigger/).
For example, if youâre afraid of small spaces and get stuck in an elevator, you might have an expected panic attack. Or you could have a panic attack while waiting to have a surgical procedure if youâve been really anxious about it.
In other words, you know *why* youâre panicking.
Expected panic attacks can be situationally cued or predisposed.
A situationally cued panic attack might be experienced immediately after exposure to a specific situation thatâs previously caused you [anxiety attacks or panic attacks](https://www.psychcentral.com/anxiety/panic-attack-vs-anxiety-attack-whats-the-difference).
For example, if you fear spiders and come in contact with one, you may experience a cued panic attack.
A predisposed panic attack, on the other hand, doesnât usually happen on cue after being exposed to the situation.
For instance, you might be afraid of flying, but you donât have a panic attack every time you board a plane. Instead, you might have a panic attack before boarding, once onboard, or after you leave the plane altogether.
You might also have an expected panic attack from frightening thoughts or anxiety itself.
Symptoms of panic attacks can feel very overwhelming. If your heart is racing, youâre having trouble breathing, and on top of that, your mind is telling you that youâre dying, it might be easy to convince yourself thatâs true.
Feeling this way during a panic attack is actually pretty natural and common. But â itâs not whatâs really happening.
In a panic attack, heart palpitations, feeling like youâre choking, and lightheadedness are mostly due to the adrenaline rush and hyperventilating. This, along with your racing thoughts, can lead to even more intense physical symptoms.
While it may feel like it â youâre not really having a heart attack or life-threatening experience. In fact, panic attack symptoms arenât usually dangerous or fatal.
A rare exception to this would be if you were to faint and hit your head, or if your panic lead you to react in a certain way that might expose you to real danger. For instance, if you panicked and ran out of your house, crossing the street without checking for cars first.
These are extremely rare occurrences, though. Most people donât faint or run during panic attacks.
But while panic attacks arenât lethal, there is a chance that your long-term health may be affected by frequent attacks, particularly if you do have an underlying cardiovascular disease.
This doesnât mean you can die from a panic attack, but rather that multiple attacks can turn into a risk factor for some health conditions.
This is why itâs important to seek professional help to prevent and manage panic attack symptoms. It might also be a good idea to regularly engage in [relaxation techniques](https://psychcentral.com/lib/relaxation-exercises-and-techniques/).
Not all panic attacks have the same symptoms or the same intensity. They can vary in duration, as well.
Typical panic attacks last up to 30 minutes, with the symptoms reaching peak intensity within the first 10 minutes before easing up. But depending on how intense your symptoms are, panic attacks can seem to last much longer.
In some cases, you may also experience residual effects for hours â like a rippling effect. So you could have some less intense physical and psychological sensations for up to a day or two after the panic attack began.
Panic attacks *can* last longer or come in and out in waves for days.
In fact, some people experience panic attacks every day for weeks or months. Others may have one panic attack and then go on for months or even years without having another one.
For some people, learning how to [cope with anticipatory anxiety](https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/what-is-anticipatory-anxiety/) and how to manage panic attack symptoms can help decrease the frequency of panic episodes.
It all starts with the amygdala â or rather amygdalae, because there are two of them, one in each brain hemisphere.
This area at the base of the brain plays an important role in behavior and emotions, particularly fear processing.
When you face a threatening stimulus, that information is sent to the amygdala. In turn, amygdalae alert other parts of your body to trigger your [fight, flight, or freeze response](https://psychcentral.com/blog/fight-flight-or-freeze-the-stress-response).
This is a natural physiological reaction to stress that quickly allows you to respond to whatever is perceived as a life threatening situation.
At a glance, the process goes something like this:
1. The amygdala receives the message that there might be a danger.
2. The amygdala pokes the sympathetic nervous system, so the body responds to the perceived danger.
3. The adrenal glands release adrenaline, the fight-or-flight hormone.
4. Adrenaline causes your heart to race and your breathing to accelerate, among other physiological symptoms.
5. Your muscles start getting more blood (preparing you in case you need to run).
6. Your brain receives more oxygen and becomes more alert.
7. Youâre ready to react to the threatening situation.
This, of course, is a great reaction to have if you really *are* in danger, like if youâre running from a wild animal attack.
But other types of stressful situations can also trigger the same responses as immediate physical danger â such as a big presentation at school if you fear public speaking.
But during a panic attack, just the perception of danger is enough for your body to respond. Also, the physiological reaction is *way* more intense than youâd really need it to be in order to respond to a threat.
You breathe even faster, and your heart pumps even more blood. This, in turn, causes you to experience other physical symptoms such as lightheadedness, hyperventilation, tunnel vision, chest pain, and numbness in parts of your body.
Itâs not clear why the body overreacts this way in certain situations, leading you to panic.
Consider seeking out a healthcare professional â your primary doctor or a mental health professional â if youâre:
- finding it difficult to make it through the day and your symptoms are interfering with your relationships, work, or any other daily activities
- having recurrent physical symptoms, such as insomnia, heart palpitations, headaches, or any form of pain
- using substances to cope with your anxiety and physical symptoms
- having panic attacks after sustaining an injury or being diagnosed with a medical condition
- staying home despite having responsibilities that require you to leave the house
- interested in better understanding your symptoms or would like to be screened for diagnosis
- interested in learning the best ways to self-manage your symptoms or the various treatment options for panic attacks | |||||||||
| ML Classification | ||||||||||
| ML Categories |
Raw JSON{
"/Health": 996,
"/Health/Mental_Health": 968,
"/Health/Mental_Health/Anxiety_and_Stress": 905
} | |||||||||
| ML Page Types |
Raw JSON{
"/Article": 998,
"/Article/Definitions": 655
} | |||||||||
| ML Intent Types |
Raw JSON{
"Informational": 999
} | |||||||||
| Content Metadata | ||||||||||
| Language | en | |||||||||
| Author | Sandra Silva | |||||||||
| Publish Time | not set | |||||||||
| Original Publish Time | 2020-12-27 19:56:43 (5 years ago) | |||||||||
| Republished | No | |||||||||
| Word Count (Total) | 3,465 | |||||||||
| Word Count (Content) | 2,380 | |||||||||
| Links | ||||||||||
| External Links | 32 | |||||||||
| Internal Links | 226 | |||||||||
| Technical SEO | ||||||||||
| Meta Nofollow | No | |||||||||
| Meta Noarchive | No | |||||||||
| JS Rendered | No | |||||||||
| Redirect Target | null | |||||||||
| Performance | ||||||||||
| Download Time (ms) | 677 | |||||||||
| TTFB (ms) | 549 | |||||||||
| Download Size (bytes) | 72,342 | |||||||||
| Shard | 89 (laksa) | |||||||||
| Root Hash | 16330228191540156489 | |||||||||
| Unparsed URL | com,psychcentral!/anxiety/panic-attack-symptoms s443 | |||||||||