🕷️ Crawler Inspector

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Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 50 (from laksa108)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa050.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.verywellhealth.com/panic-attacks-symptoms-5093170\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.verywellhealth.com/panic-attacks-symptoms-5093170\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/panic-attacks-symptoms-5093170","crawl_time":1775961791,"first_indexed_time":1608695383,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,verywellhealth!www,\/panic-attacks-symptoms-5093170 s443","src_root_hash":"5681562863987870850","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"12 Symptoms of a Panic Attack and What to Do","meta_descriptions":["Explore 12 common symptoms of panic attacks, including rapid heartbeat and dizziness, and learn when to seek medical help."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Key Takeaways\nPanic attacks often involve symptoms like a rapid heartbeat, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. \nPanic is a normal response to extreme stress but not to more common life changes or disruptions.\nTreatment can include cognitive behavior therapy and anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medications.\nPanic attacks can overwhelm with symptoms like heart palpitations, dizziness, and shortness of breath, transforming everyday situations into sources of fear and distress. Recognizing these signs is crucial for managing panic attacks and knowing when to see a healthcare provider.\n1. Trembling or Shaking\nTrembling, shaking, and tremors are common\nsymptoms of many anxiety disorders\n.  During a panic attack, your hands and fingers might shake initially, making it difficult to hold small objects like a pen, utensils, or your phone. This can escalate to full-body trembling, making it hard to stand.\nIt is believed that the shaking that occurs during a panic attack is an overreaction of the\nsympathetic nervous system\n, part of the fight-or-flight response. As your muscles tense to \"take flight,\" or run away from the triggering situation, you will experience twitching and tremors.\nWhat Does a Panic Attack Feel Like?\nPeople often use words like \"crushing,\" \"pounding,\" \"feels like an eternity,\" \"losing my mind,\" and \"can't get enough air\" to describe panic attacks.\nMany people grow to dread panic attacks and alter their lifestyle to avoid having another one. They may change their routines, limit the places they go, or stay away from people who may trigger them.\n2. Numbness and Tingling\nParesthesias\n, which is more commonly known as numbness and tingling, can also occur during a panic attack.\nYou might experience this as numbness or \"pins and needles\" in areas such as your lips, face, fingers, arms, feet, and legs.\nThis is another symptom that is due to a miscalculation of the evolutionary fight-or-flight response. During this response, blood rushes to important organs such as the heart, lungs, and central organs. This can leave \"less important\" body parts, in particular your extremities, lacking blood and subsequently feeling tingly.\n3. Chills or Hot Flashes\nMany people also report experiencing thermal sensations, including chills or hot flashes, during a panic attack.\nThe physiological mechanisms behind this are not completely understood, although one theory is that this is also a result of the fight-or-flight response.\nAlthough hot flashes are listed in the \"Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision\" (DSM-5 TR) as symptoms of a panic attack, research indicates that panic can sometimes be a\nresponse\nto a hot flash.\nThis may be the case for people who are in menopause when\nhot flashes\nare often a result of hormone disruptions. Experiencing a sudden hot flash is uncomfortable and frightening and may actually trigger a panic attack on its own.\n4. Sweating\nSweating often occurs during panic attacks. Common symptoms include clammy palms and sweating on your armpits, back, or temples.\nIt can sometimes be hard to identify a panic attack in another person, since many of these symptoms are experienced internally.\nHowever, if you see someone excessively sweating, whether on their forehead or through their shirt when there is no obvious physical or environmental cause, one explanation could be a panic attack.\n5. Nausea\nNausea is another frequent symptom of panic attacks. In rare instances, it may lead to vomiting.\nThe nausea might feel like \"butterflies in your stomach,\" a common anxiety symptom. This reaction comes from the fight-or-flight response, where excessive adrenaline can make you feel queasy.\n6. Heart Palpitations\nHeart palpitations\nand\ntachycardia\n, or abnormally high heart rate, are additional symptoms of a panic attack.\nFeeling your heart skip a beat or having an unusually high pulse can be frightening and may intensify your panic attack.\nLike nearly all symptoms of a panic attack, a high or irregular heart rate is linked to the fight-or-flight response. As your body is pumping out blood to important organs and large muscle groups to aid in your fighting (or running away), your heart will work overtime.\n7. Breathing Problems\nThe DSM-5 TR lists\nshortness of breath\n, or feelings of choking or being smothered, as symptoms of a panic attack.\nThese respiratory symptoms can also present as hyperventilation.\nTaking deep, diaphragmatic breaths (in which the stomach, rather than the chest, expands as you inhale) can help your body and re-regulate your breathing. A benefit is that deep breathing can also activate the parasympathetic nervous system, calming the body's fight-or-flight response and reducing feelings of anxiety.\n8. Dizziness\nDizziness is a common symptom of panic attacks you should be aware of.\nIn some cases, this could be secondary to taking short, shallow breaths (which affect your blood chemistry).\nIf you experience sudden dizziness, find a safe place to sit. While a panic attack isn't inherently dangerous, dizziness could lead to falls or injuries.\nIf you are with someone who is feeling lightheaded or dizzy due to a panic attack, have them sit down and place their head between their legs or lie down and elevate their legs. This can help regulate blood pressure and reduce feelings of faintness.\n9. Fear of Losing Control\nSomeone having a panic attack might be scared of losing control or \"going crazy.\"\nA panic attack is defined as a discrete, time-bound episode of panic, and during that time, you might indeed lose control of your body and emotions.\nRemember that most panic attacks last just a few minutes, and you'll regain control afterward.\n10. Derealization or Depersonalization\nDerealization and depersonalization are additional, rarer symptoms of panic attacks.\nWhen someone experiences derealization, they have a feeling of unreality, or being disconnected from reality as it is occurring around them.\nDepersonalization can be described as feeling detached from oneself, or as if you are observing your own behaviors but not identifying with them.\nDuring a panic attack, you might feel derealization or depersonalization, as if you're \"floating above\" your body or watching yourself from a distance.\n11. Chest Pain or Discomfort\nChest pain is one of the most distressing symptoms of panic attacks. Panic attacks are often mistaken for heart attacks due to chest pain symptoms.\nAn older study found that approximately 25% of patients who present to their physician with symptoms of chest pain are ultimately diagnosed with panic disorder.\n12. Fear of Dying\nIn the moment, a panic attack can be so terrifying and all-consuming that you may experience fear of dying.\nWith symptoms like heart palpitations, chest pain, and hyperventilation, it's understandable to feel like you might be dying during a panic attack. Remember, a panic attack itself cannot harm you.\nIllustration by Joshua Seong. © Verywell, 2018. \nAnxiety Attack vs. Panic Attack\nPeople often use \"anxiety attack\" and \"panic attack\" interchangeably. However, only a panic attack is defined in the DSM-5 TR with specific symptoms, while an\nanxiety attack\ncan refer to a less intense episode.\nComplications\nThere can be complications if a panic attack is not dealt with. These can include the following.\nPanic Disorder\nWhile, for some people, a panic attack might be a one-off occurrence, 2% to 3% of people will go on to develop panic disorder.\nPanic disorder is an anxiety disorder diagnosed by a psychiatrist or primary care provider. The DSM-5 TR explains that a person must regularly experience unexpected panic attacks to be diagnosed.\nAt least one of these panic attacks must be followed by a one-month period of the person experiencing intense fear and avoidance behaviors around subsequent panic attacks.\nAvoidance Behaviors\nAccording to the DSM-5 TR, panic attacks can be either expected or unexpected.\nSome people can identify triggers that lead to panic attacks.\nTriggers may include driving, being in public, public speaking, going to the gym, and hearing loud noises like fireworks or car backfires.\nAvoiding triggers might reduce panic attacks but can also limit your life and relationships, causing feelings of dread.\nAgoraphobia\nExperiencing a panic attack in public or while driving leads to an increased chance of developing\nagoraphobia\n. Agoraphobia is an intense fear and avoidance of being in a situation where escape might be difficult if you have a panic attack. It can also include the fear of leaving one's home.\nFor people with panic attacks, this is due to a fear of experiencing another attack in public. Agoraphobia can lead to functional disability and limit relationships, work, social life, leisure, and more.\nCardiac Conditions\nPeople with panic disorder have higher rates of cardiac conditions, including hypertension (high blood pressure) and\ncardiomyopathy\n.\nResearch is not definitive regarding the direction of causality, as it may be the case that people with these pre-existing cardiac conditions are more likely to experience panic as a result of their disease.\nNevertheless, this is one reason it is important to seek treatment for panic disorder or ongoing panic attacks.\nWhen to See a Healthcare Provider\nPanic attacks can be symptoms of anxiety disorders like panic disorder, PTSD, phobia-related disorders, and social anxiety disorder. It's crucial to get an accurate diagnosis for effective treatment.\nSee your healthcare provider if you:\nExperience symptoms of a panic attack\nFeel a sense of dread over the possibility of another panic attack\nFind yourself altering your routine, plans, or behaviors to avoid another one\nYour healthcare provider will rule out potential physical causes of your symptoms, discuss your treatment options, and may refer you to a psychiatrist for diagnosis or a psychotherapist for\ntreatment.\nVerywell \/ Cindy Chung ","attrs_markdown":"[Skip to content](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/panic-attacks-symptoms-5093170#skip-to-content)\n\nMenu\n\n- [Health A-Z](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/health-a-z-4014770)\n  - [Colorectal Cancer](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/colon-cancer-4014742)\n  - [Arthritis](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/arthritis-overview-4582013)\n  - [Type 2 Diabetes](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/type-2-diabetes-overview-4581874)\n  - [Digestive Health](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/digestive-health-4141198)\n  - 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[View All](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/news-4846412)\n\n[More in Mental Health](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/mental-health-5079153)\n\n- [Anxiety Disorders](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/anxiety-disorders-5205106)\n- [Mental Health Disorder Symptoms](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/mental-health-disorders-symptoms-8646516)\n- [Autism](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/autism-overview-4582004)\n- [ADHD](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/adhd-8430762)\n- [Bipolar Disorder](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/bipolar-disorder-8431792)\n- [Depression](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/depression-8431794)\n- [OCD](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/ocd-related-disorders-8431799)\n- [Mood Disorders](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/mood-disorders-5205099)\n- [Eating Disorders](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/eating-disorders-5205104)\n- [Neurodevelopmental Disorders](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/neurodevelopmental-disorders-5205110)\n- [Therapy](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/therapy-5205107)\n- [Personality Disorders](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/personality-disorders-5205101)\n- [Psychotic Disorders](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/psychotic-disorders-5205105)\n- [Substance Use Disorder & Addiction](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/substance-use-disorder-addiction-5205102)\n- [Psychology](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/psychology-8431801)\n- [Trauma & Stressor-Related Disorders](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/trauma-and-stressor-related-disorders-5205109)\n\n[View More](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/mental-health-5079153)\n\nTools & Resources\n\n- [Thyroid Test Analyzer](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/thyroid-test-analyzer-8647820)\n- [Doctor Discussion Guides](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/doctor-discussion-guides-4179090)\n- [Hemoglobin A1c Test Analyzer](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/a1c-test-analyzer-8647852)\n- [Lipid Test Analyzer](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/lipid-test-analyzer-8647856)\n- [Complete Blood Count (CBC) Analyzer](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/complete-blood-count-cbc-analyzer-8647862)\n\n- [About Us](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/about-us-5180305)\n- [Editorial Process](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/verywell-editorial-process-4777042)\n- [Medical Review Board](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/meet-our-medical-expert-board-11762003)\n\nVerywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.\n\nⒸ 2026 People Inc. — All rights reserved\n\n# 12 Symptoms of a Panic Attack and What to Do\nBy [Sarah Bence, OTR\/L](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/sarah-bence-otr-l-5082131)\n\nUpdated on November 28, 2025\n\nMedically reviewed by  [Steven Gans, MD](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/steven-gans-md-4685030)\n\nClose\n\n### Key Takeaways\n- Panic attacks often involve symptoms like a rapid heartbeat, dizziness, and difficulty breathing.\n- Panic is a normal response to extreme stress but not to more common life changes or disruptions.\n- Treatment can include cognitive behavior therapy and anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medications.\n\nPanic attacks can overwhelm with symptoms like heart palpitations, dizziness, and shortness of breath, transforming everyday situations into sources of fear and distress. Recognizing these signs is crucial for managing panic attacks and knowing when to see a healthcare provider.\n\n![signs of a panic attack include chills or hot flashes, sweating, trembling or shaking, numbness and tingling, dizziness, nausea, heart palpitations, and hyperventilation]()\n\n![signs of a panic attack include chills or hot flashes, sweating, trembling or shaking, numbness and tingling, dizziness, nausea, heart palpitations, and hyperventilation](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/thmb\/fAA_6hM09Vs5X9Mzr4yxq2vd-mQ=\/1500x0\/filters:no_upscale\\(\\):max_bytes\\(150000\\):strip_icc\\(\\)\/signsofapanicattack-461863c90c47418996c40caadb701a20.png)\n## 1\\. Trembling or Shaking\nTrembling, shaking, and tremors are common [symptoms of many anxiety disorders](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/anxiety-attack-5088600). During a panic attack, your hands and fingers might shake initially, making it difficult to hold small objects like a pen, utensils, or your phone. This can escalate to full-body trembling, making it hard to stand.\n\nIt is believed that the shaking that occurs during a panic attack is an overreaction of the [sympathetic nervous system](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/autonomic-nervous-system-anatomy-2488639), part of the fight-or-flight response. As your muscles tense to \"take flight,\" or run away from the triggering situation, you will experience twitching and tremors.\n\n### What Does a Panic Attack Feel Like?\nPeople often use words like \"crushing,\" \"pounding,\" \"feels like an eternity,\" \"losing my mind,\" and \"can't get enough air\" to describe panic attacks. Many people grow to dread panic attacks and alter their lifestyle to avoid having another one. They may change their routines, limit the places they go, or stay away from people who may trigger them.\n## 2\\. Numbness and Tingling\n[Paresthesias](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/paresthesia-why-body-parts-fall-asleep-4153984), which is more commonly known as numbness and tingling, can also occur during a panic attack. You might experience this as numbness or \"pins and needles\" in areas such as your lips, face, fingers, arms, feet, and legs.\n\nThis is another symptom that is due to a miscalculation of the evolutionary fight-or-flight response. During this response, blood rushes to important organs such as the heart, lungs, and central organs. This can leave \"less important\" body parts, in particular your extremities, lacking blood and subsequently feeling tingly.\n\n## 3\\. Chills or Hot Flashes\nMany people also report experiencing thermal sensations, including chills or hot flashes, during a panic attack. The physiological mechanisms behind this are not completely understood, although one theory is that this is also a result of the fight-or-flight response.\n\nAlthough hot flashes are listed in the \"Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision\" (DSM-5 TR) as symptoms of a panic attack, research indicates that panic can sometimes be a *response* to a hot flash.\n\nThis may be the case for people who are in menopause when [hot flashes](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/cool-ways-to-stop-hot-flashes-2322681) are often a result of hormone disruptions. Experiencing a sudden hot flash is uncomfortable and frightening and may actually trigger a panic attack on its own.\n\n## 4\\. Sweating\nSweating often occurs during panic attacks. Common symptoms include clammy palms and sweating on your armpits, back, or temples.\n\nIt can sometimes be hard to identify a panic attack in another person, since many of these symptoms are experienced internally.\n\nHowever, if you see someone excessively sweating, whether on their forehead or through their shirt when there is no obvious physical or environmental cause, one explanation could be a panic attack.\n\n## 5\\. Nausea\nNausea is another frequent symptom of panic attacks. In rare instances, it may lead to vomiting.\n\nThe nausea might feel like \"butterflies in your stomach,\" a common anxiety symptom. This reaction comes from the fight-or-flight response, where excessive adrenaline can make you feel queasy.\n\n## 6\\. Heart Palpitations\n[Heart palpitations](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/how-to-stop-heart-palpitations-due-to-anxiety-8347544) and [tachycardia](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/tachycardias-the-fast-heart-rhythms-1746270), or abnormally high heart rate, are additional symptoms of a panic attack. Feeling your heart skip a beat or having an unusually high pulse can be frightening and may intensify your panic attack.\n\nLike nearly all symptoms of a panic attack, a high or irregular heart rate is linked to the fight-or-flight response. As your body is pumping out blood to important organs and large muscle groups to aid in your fighting (or running away), your heart will work overtime.\n\n## 7\\. Breathing Problems\nThe DSM-5 TR lists [shortness of breath](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/shortness-of-breath-from-anxiety-8745156), or feelings of choking or being smothered, as symptoms of a panic attack. These respiratory symptoms can also present as hyperventilation.\n\nTaking deep, diaphragmatic breaths (in which the stomach, rather than the chest, expands as you inhale) can help your body and re-regulate your breathing. A benefit is that deep breathing can also activate the parasympathetic nervous system, calming the body's fight-or-flight response and reducing feelings of anxiety.\n\n## 8\\. Dizziness\nDizziness is a common symptom of panic attacks you should be aware of. In some cases, this could be secondary to taking short, shallow breaths (which affect your blood chemistry).\n\nIf you experience sudden dizziness, find a safe place to sit. While a panic attack isn't inherently dangerous, dizziness could lead to falls or injuries.\n\nIf you are with someone who is feeling lightheaded or dizzy due to a panic attack, have them sit down and place their head between their legs or lie down and elevate their legs. This can help regulate blood pressure and reduce feelings of faintness.\n\n## 9\\. Fear of Losing Control\nSomeone having a panic attack might be scared of losing control or \"going crazy.\" A panic attack is defined as a discrete, time-bound episode of panic, and during that time, you might indeed lose control of your body and emotions.\n\nRemember that most panic attacks last just a few minutes, and you'll regain control afterward.\n\n## 10\\. Derealization or Depersonalization\nDerealization and depersonalization are additional, rarer symptoms of panic attacks. When someone experiences derealization, they have a feeling of unreality, or being disconnected from reality as it is occurring around them.\n\nDepersonalization can be described as feeling detached from oneself, or as if you are observing your own behaviors but not identifying with them.\n\nDuring a panic attack, you might feel derealization or depersonalization, as if you're \"floating above\" your body or watching yourself from a distance.\n\n## 11\\. Chest Pain or Discomfort\nChest pain is one of the most distressing symptoms of panic attacks. Panic attacks are often mistaken for heart attacks due to chest pain symptoms.\n\nAn older study found that approximately 25% of patients who present to their physician with symptoms of chest pain are ultimately diagnosed with panic disorder.\n\n## 12\\. Fear of Dying\nIn the moment, a panic attack can be so terrifying and all-consuming that you may experience fear of dying.\n\nWith symptoms like heart palpitations, chest pain, and hyperventilation, it's understandable to feel like you might be dying during a panic attack. Remember, a panic attack itself cannot harm you.\n\n![Panic Attacks vs. Anxiety]()\n\n![Panic Attacks vs. Anxiety](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/thmb\/eoqX8Mzi4YkscP8Fdn7St00LeYM=\/1500x0\/filters:no_upscale\\(\\):max_bytes\\(150000\\):strip_icc\\(\\)\/2584396-article-anxiety-attacks-versus-panic-attacks-5a7b5f8a1d64040037fce67f.png)\n\nIllustration by Joshua Seong. © Verywell, 2018.\n\n### Anxiety Attack vs. Panic Attack\nPeople often use \"anxiety attack\" and \"panic attack\" interchangeably. However, only a panic attack is defined in the DSM-5 TR with specific symptoms, while an [anxiety attack](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/anxiety-attack-5088600) can refer to a less intense episode.\n## Complications\nThere can be complications if a panic attack is not dealt with. These can include the following.\n\n### Panic Disorder\nWhile, for some people, a panic attack might be a one-off occurrence, 2% to 3% of people will go on to develop panic disorder.\n\nPanic disorder is an anxiety disorder diagnosed by a psychiatrist or primary care provider. The DSM-5 TR explains that a person must regularly experience unexpected panic attacks to be diagnosed.\n\nAt least one of these panic attacks must be followed by a one-month period of the person experiencing intense fear and avoidance behaviors around subsequent panic attacks.\n\n### Avoidance Behaviors\nAccording to the DSM-5 TR, panic attacks can be either expected or unexpected. Some people can identify triggers that lead to panic attacks.\n\nTriggers may include driving, being in public, public speaking, going to the gym, and hearing loud noises like fireworks or car backfires.\n\nAvoiding triggers might reduce panic attacks but can also limit your life and relationships, causing feelings of dread.\n\n### Agoraphobia\nExperiencing a panic attack in public or while driving leads to an increased chance of developing [agoraphobia](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/agoraphobia-101-2584235). Agoraphobia is an intense fear and avoidance of being in a situation where escape might be difficult if you have a panic attack. It can also include the fear of leaving one's home.\n\nFor people with panic attacks, this is due to a fear of experiencing another attack in public. Agoraphobia can lead to functional disability and limit relationships, work, social life, leisure, and more.\n\n### Cardiac Conditions\nPeople with panic disorder have higher rates of cardiac conditions, including hypertension (high blood pressure) and cardiomyopathy.\n\nResearch is not definitive regarding the direction of causality, as it may be the case that people with these pre-existing cardiac conditions are more likely to experience panic as a result of their disease.\n\nNevertheless, this is one reason it is important to seek treatment for panic disorder or ongoing panic attacks.\n\n## When to See a Healthcare Provider\nPanic attacks can be symptoms of anxiety disorders like panic disorder, PTSD, phobia-related disorders, and social anxiety disorder. It's crucial to get an accurate diagnosis for effective treatment.\n\nSee your healthcare provider if you:\n\n- Experience symptoms of a panic attack\n- Feel a sense of dread over the possibility of another panic attack\n- Find yourself altering your routine, plans, or behaviors to avoid another one\n\nYour healthcare provider will rule out potential physical causes of your symptoms, discuss your treatment options, and may refer you to a psychiatrist for diagnosis or a psychotherapist for [treatment.](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/medications-for-anxiety-and-depression-8348994)\n\nIf you or someone you care about is experiencing panic attacks, contact the [Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline](https:\/\/www.samhsa.gov\/find-help\/national-helpline) at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.\n\nVerywell \/ Cindy Chung\n\nRead more:\n\n- [Health A-Z](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/health-a-z-4014770)\n- [Mental Health](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/mental-health-5079153)\n- [Anxiety Disorders](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/anxiety-disorders-5205106)\n\n6 Sources\n\nVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our [editorial process](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/verywell-editorial-process-4777042) to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.\n\n1. National Institute of Mental Health. [Panic disorder: When fear overwhelms](https:\/\/www.nimh.nih.gov\/health\/publications\/panic-disorder-when-fear-overwhelms\/index.shtml).\n2. American Psychiatric Association. [*Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders,* 5th ed., text rev. (DSM-5 TR)](https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1176\/appi.books.9780890425787).\n3. Freeman EW, Sammel MD. [Anxiety as a risk factor for menopausal hot flashes: evidence from the Penn Ovarian Aging Cohort](https:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.1097%2FGME.0000000000000662). *Menopause*. 2016;23(9):942-949. doi:10.1097\/GME.000000000000066\n4. Jerath R, Crawford MW, Barnes VA, Harden K. [Self-regulation of breathing as a primary treatment for anxiety](https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10484-015-9279-8). *Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback*. 2015;40(2):107-115. doi:10.1007\/s10484-015-9279-8\n5. U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. [Agoraphobia](https:\/\/medlineplus.gov\/ency\/article\/000923.htm).\n6. Caldirola D, Schruers KR, Nardi AE, De Berardis D, Fornaro M, Perna G. [Is there cardiac risk in panic disorder? An updated systematic review](https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jad.2016.01.003). *J Affect Disord*. 2016;194:38–49. doi:10.1016\/j.jad.2016.01.003\n\n![Brown haired white woman wearing a light blue sweater looks directly into camera]()\n\n![Brown haired white woman wearing a light blue sweater looks directly into camera](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/thmb\/u8NJfqtIywpVRy1X4mU9wXuO9WU=\/144x144\/filters:no_upscale\\(\\):max_bytes\\(150000\\):strip_icc\\(\\)\/headshotverwell-1334973c32f9429493c7979e6384b8ff.jpg)\n\nBy [Sarah Bence, OTR\/L](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/sarah-bence-otr-l-5082131)   \n Bence is an occupational therapist with a range of work experience in mental healthcare settings. She is living with celiac disease and endometriosis.\n\n[See Our Editorial Process](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/verywell-editorial-process-4777042)\n\n[Meet Our Medical Expert Board](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/meet-our-medical-expert-board-11762003)\n\nShare Feedback\n\nWas this page helpful?\n\nThanks for your feedback\\!\n\nWhat is your feedback?\n\nHelpful\n\nReport an Error\n\nOther\n\nRelated Articles\n\n[![woman worried group of men]() ![woman worried group of men](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/thmb\/TGfZY6xp4fxc6-n2vOzeiR9vQRs=\/400x250\/filters:no_upscale\\(\\):max_bytes\\(150000\\):strip_icc\\(\\)\/GettyImages-12904880761-ec534df272cc4545b198f6faa38f1db2.jpg) Fear of Men (Androphobia) and Its Causes](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/fear-of-men-5213222)\n\n[![Cropped shot of a woman sitting on a sofa and feeling anxious]() ![Cropped shot of a woman sitting on a sofa and feeling anxious](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/thmb\/lNodDzyRYJ5zQ5JkTVnrAdQfRkM=\/400x250\/filters:no_upscale\\(\\):max_bytes\\(150000\\):strip_icc\\(\\)\/GettyImages-1271548786-322232369e3747f8a724a3af7704b6fe.jpg) What Is Severe Anxiety?](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/severe-anxiety-5200310)\n\n[![Person using tweezers and mirror]() ![Person using tweezers and mirror](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/thmb\/UnX5Kz0vaxKNSL2W_wIH_Y_pon0=\/400x250\/filters:no_upscale\\(\\):max_bytes\\(150000\\):strip_icc\\(\\)\/GettyImages-1173894678-fe5cbb9c2b464f8391d3dff567be5606.jpg) Pulling Out Eyelashes](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/pulling-out-eyelashes-6504388)\n\n[![A psychiatrist with blonde hair and a patient with brown hair speaking to each other. 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Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.\n\nⒸ 2026 People Inc. — All rights reserved\n\nVerywell Health is part of the [People Inc.](https:\/\/www.people.inc\/) publishing family.","attrs_readable_markdown":"### Key Takeaways\n- Panic attacks often involve symptoms like a rapid heartbeat, dizziness, and difficulty breathing.\n- Panic is a normal response to extreme stress but not to more common life changes or disruptions.\n- Treatment can include cognitive behavior therapy and anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medications.\n\nPanic attacks can overwhelm with symptoms like heart palpitations, dizziness, and shortness of breath, transforming everyday situations into sources of fear and distress. Recognizing these signs is crucial for managing panic attacks and knowing when to see a healthcare provider.\n\n## 1\\. Trembling or Shaking\nTrembling, shaking, and tremors are common [symptoms of many anxiety disorders](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/anxiety-attack-5088600). During a panic attack, your hands and fingers might shake initially, making it difficult to hold small objects like a pen, utensils, or your phone. This can escalate to full-body trembling, making it hard to stand.\n\nIt is believed that the shaking that occurs during a panic attack is an overreaction of the [sympathetic nervous system](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/autonomic-nervous-system-anatomy-2488639), part of the fight-or-flight response. As your muscles tense to \"take flight,\" or run away from the triggering situation, you will experience twitching and tremors.\n\n### What Does a Panic Attack Feel Like?\nPeople often use words like \"crushing,\" \"pounding,\" \"feels like an eternity,\" \"losing my mind,\" and \"can't get enough air\" to describe panic attacks. Many people grow to dread panic attacks and alter their lifestyle to avoid having another one. They may change their routines, limit the places they go, or stay away from people who may trigger them.\n## 2\\. Numbness and Tingling\n[Paresthesias](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/paresthesia-why-body-parts-fall-asleep-4153984), which is more commonly known as numbness and tingling, can also occur during a panic attack. You might experience this as numbness or \"pins and needles\" in areas such as your lips, face, fingers, arms, feet, and legs.\n\nThis is another symptom that is due to a miscalculation of the evolutionary fight-or-flight response. During this response, blood rushes to important organs such as the heart, lungs, and central organs. This can leave \"less important\" body parts, in particular your extremities, lacking blood and subsequently feeling tingly.\n\n## 3\\. Chills or Hot Flashes\nMany people also report experiencing thermal sensations, including chills or hot flashes, during a panic attack. The physiological mechanisms behind this are not completely understood, although one theory is that this is also a result of the fight-or-flight response.\n\nAlthough hot flashes are listed in the \"Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision\" (DSM-5 TR) as symptoms of a panic attack, research indicates that panic can sometimes be a *response* to a hot flash.\n\nThis may be the case for people who are in menopause when [hot flashes](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/cool-ways-to-stop-hot-flashes-2322681) are often a result of hormone disruptions. Experiencing a sudden hot flash is uncomfortable and frightening and may actually trigger a panic attack on its own.\n\n## 4\\. Sweating\nSweating often occurs during panic attacks. Common symptoms include clammy palms and sweating on your armpits, back, or temples.\n\nIt can sometimes be hard to identify a panic attack in another person, since many of these symptoms are experienced internally.\n\nHowever, if you see someone excessively sweating, whether on their forehead or through their shirt when there is no obvious physical or environmental cause, one explanation could be a panic attack.\n\n## 5\\. Nausea\nNausea is another frequent symptom of panic attacks. In rare instances, it may lead to vomiting.\n\nThe nausea might feel like \"butterflies in your stomach,\" a common anxiety symptom. This reaction comes from the fight-or-flight response, where excessive adrenaline can make you feel queasy.\n\n## 6\\. Heart Palpitations\n[Heart palpitations](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/how-to-stop-heart-palpitations-due-to-anxiety-8347544) and [tachycardia](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/tachycardias-the-fast-heart-rhythms-1746270), or abnormally high heart rate, are additional symptoms of a panic attack. Feeling your heart skip a beat or having an unusually high pulse can be frightening and may intensify your panic attack.\n\nLike nearly all symptoms of a panic attack, a high or irregular heart rate is linked to the fight-or-flight response. As your body is pumping out blood to important organs and large muscle groups to aid in your fighting (or running away), your heart will work overtime.\n\n## 7\\. Breathing Problems\nThe DSM-5 TR lists [shortness of breath](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/shortness-of-breath-from-anxiety-8745156), or feelings of choking or being smothered, as symptoms of a panic attack. These respiratory symptoms can also present as hyperventilation.\n\nTaking deep, diaphragmatic breaths (in which the stomach, rather than the chest, expands as you inhale) can help your body and re-regulate your breathing. A benefit is that deep breathing can also activate the parasympathetic nervous system, calming the body's fight-or-flight response and reducing feelings of anxiety.\n\n## 8\\. Dizziness\nDizziness is a common symptom of panic attacks you should be aware of. In some cases, this could be secondary to taking short, shallow breaths (which affect your blood chemistry).\n\nIf you experience sudden dizziness, find a safe place to sit. While a panic attack isn't inherently dangerous, dizziness could lead to falls or injuries.\n\nIf you are with someone who is feeling lightheaded or dizzy due to a panic attack, have them sit down and place their head between their legs or lie down and elevate their legs. This can help regulate blood pressure and reduce feelings of faintness.\n\n## 9\\. Fear of Losing Control\nSomeone having a panic attack might be scared of losing control or \"going crazy.\" A panic attack is defined as a discrete, time-bound episode of panic, and during that time, you might indeed lose control of your body and emotions.\n\nRemember that most panic attacks last just a few minutes, and you'll regain control afterward.\n\n## 10\\. Derealization or Depersonalization\nDerealization and depersonalization are additional, rarer symptoms of panic attacks. When someone experiences derealization, they have a feeling of unreality, or being disconnected from reality as it is occurring around them.\n\nDepersonalization can be described as feeling detached from oneself, or as if you are observing your own behaviors but not identifying with them.\n\nDuring a panic attack, you might feel derealization or depersonalization, as if you're \"floating above\" your body or watching yourself from a distance.\n\n## 11\\. Chest Pain or Discomfort\nChest pain is one of the most distressing symptoms of panic attacks. Panic attacks are often mistaken for heart attacks due to chest pain symptoms.\n\nAn older study found that approximately 25% of patients who present to their physician with symptoms of chest pain are ultimately diagnosed with panic disorder.\n\n## 12\\. Fear of Dying\nIn the moment, a panic attack can be so terrifying and all-consuming that you may experience fear of dying.\n\nWith symptoms like heart palpitations, chest pain, and hyperventilation, it's understandable to feel like you might be dying during a panic attack. Remember, a panic attack itself cannot harm you.\n\nIllustration by Joshua Seong. © Verywell, 2018.\n\n### Anxiety Attack vs. Panic Attack\nPeople often use \"anxiety attack\" and \"panic attack\" interchangeably. However, only a panic attack is defined in the DSM-5 TR with specific symptoms, while an [anxiety attack](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/anxiety-attack-5088600) can refer to a less intense episode.\n## Complications\nThere can be complications if a panic attack is not dealt with. These can include the following.\n\n### Panic Disorder\nWhile, for some people, a panic attack might be a one-off occurrence, 2% to 3% of people will go on to develop panic disorder.\n\nPanic disorder is an anxiety disorder diagnosed by a psychiatrist or primary care provider. The DSM-5 TR explains that a person must regularly experience unexpected panic attacks to be diagnosed.\n\nAt least one of these panic attacks must be followed by a one-month period of the person experiencing intense fear and avoidance behaviors around subsequent panic attacks.\n\n### Avoidance Behaviors\nAccording to the DSM-5 TR, panic attacks can be either expected or unexpected. Some people can identify triggers that lead to panic attacks.\n\nTriggers may include driving, being in public, public speaking, going to the gym, and hearing loud noises like fireworks or car backfires.\n\nAvoiding triggers might reduce panic attacks but can also limit your life and relationships, causing feelings of dread.\n\n### Agoraphobia\nExperiencing a panic attack in public or while driving leads to an increased chance of developing [agoraphobia](https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/agoraphobia-101-2584235). Agoraphobia is an intense fear and avoidance of being in a situation where escape might be difficult if you have a panic attack. It can also include the fear of leaving one's home.\n\nFor people with panic attacks, this is due to a fear of experiencing another attack in public. Agoraphobia can lead to functional disability and limit relationships, work, social life, leisure, and more.\n\n### Cardiac Conditions\nPeople with panic disorder have higher rates of cardiac conditions, including hypertension (high blood pressure) and cardiomyopathy.\n\nResearch is not definitive regarding the direction of causality, as it may be the case that people with these pre-existing cardiac conditions are more likely to experience panic as a result of their disease.\n\nNevertheless, this is one reason it is important to seek treatment for panic disorder or ongoing panic attacks.\n\n## When to See a Healthcare Provider\nPanic attacks can be symptoms of anxiety disorders like panic disorder, PTSD, phobia-related disorders, and social anxiety disorder. It's crucial to get an accurate diagnosis for effective treatment.\n\nSee your healthcare provider if you:\n\n- Experience symptoms of a panic attack\n- Feel a sense of dread over the possibility of another panic attack\n- Find yourself altering your routine, plans, or behaviors to avoid another one\n\nYour healthcare provider will rule out potential physical causes of your symptoms, discuss your treatment options, and may refer you to a psychiatrist for diagnosis or a psychotherapist for [treatment.](https:\/\/www.verywellhealth.com\/medications-for-anxiety-and-depression-8348994)\n\nVerywell \/ Cindy Chung","meta_canonical":null}

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Meta Description	Explore 12 common symptoms of panic attacks, including rapid heartbeat and dizziness, and learn when to seek medical help.
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Boilerpipe Text	Key Takeaways Panic attacks often involve symptoms like a rapid heartbeat, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. Panic is a normal response to extreme stress but not to more common life changes or disruptions. Treatment can include cognitive behavior therapy and anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medications. Panic attacks can overwhelm with symptoms like heart palpitations, dizziness, and shortness of breath, transforming everyday situations into sources of fear and distress. Recognizing these signs is crucial for managing panic attacks and knowing when to see a healthcare provider. 1. Trembling or Shaking Trembling, shaking, and tremors are common symptoms of many anxiety disorders . During a panic attack, your hands and fingers might shake initially, making it difficult to hold small objects like a pen, utensils, or your phone. This can escalate to full-body trembling, making it hard to stand. It is believed that the shaking that occurs during a panic attack is an overreaction of the sympathetic nervous system , part of the fight-or-flight response. As your muscles tense to "take flight," or run away from the triggering situation, you will experience twitching and tremors. What Does a Panic Attack Feel Like? People often use words like "crushing," "pounding," "feels like an eternity," "losing my mind," and "can't get enough air" to describe panic attacks. Many people grow to dread panic attacks and alter their lifestyle to avoid having another one. They may change their routines, limit the places they go, or stay away from people who may trigger them. 2. Numbness and Tingling Paresthesias , which is more commonly known as numbness and tingling, can also occur during a panic attack. You might experience this as numbness or "pins and needles" in areas such as your lips, face, fingers, arms, feet, and legs. This is another symptom that is due to a miscalculation of the evolutionary fight-or-flight response. During this response, blood rushes to important organs such as the heart, lungs, and central organs. This can leave "less important" body parts, in particular your extremities, lacking blood and subsequently feeling tingly. 3. Chills or Hot Flashes Many people also report experiencing thermal sensations, including chills or hot flashes, during a panic attack. The physiological mechanisms behind this are not completely understood, although one theory is that this is also a result of the fight-or-flight response. Although hot flashes are listed in the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision" (DSM-5 TR) as symptoms of a panic attack, research indicates that panic can sometimes be a response to a hot flash. This may be the case for people who are in menopause when hot flashes are often a result of hormone disruptions. Experiencing a sudden hot flash is uncomfortable and frightening and may actually trigger a panic attack on its own. 4. Sweating Sweating often occurs during panic attacks. Common symptoms include clammy palms and sweating on your armpits, back, or temples. It can sometimes be hard to identify a panic attack in another person, since many of these symptoms are experienced internally. However, if you see someone excessively sweating, whether on their forehead or through their shirt when there is no obvious physical or environmental cause, one explanation could be a panic attack. 5. Nausea Nausea is another frequent symptom of panic attacks. In rare instances, it may lead to vomiting. The nausea might feel like "butterflies in your stomach," a common anxiety symptom. This reaction comes from the fight-or-flight response, where excessive adrenaline can make you feel queasy. 6. Heart Palpitations Heart palpitations and tachycardia , or abnormally high heart rate, are additional symptoms of a panic attack. Feeling your heart skip a beat or having an unusually high pulse can be frightening and may intensify your panic attack. Like nearly all symptoms of a panic attack, a high or irregular heart rate is linked to the fight-or-flight response. As your body is pumping out blood to important organs and large muscle groups to aid in your fighting (or running away), your heart will work overtime. 7. Breathing Problems The DSM-5 TR lists shortness of breath , or feelings of choking or being smothered, as symptoms of a panic attack. These respiratory symptoms can also present as hyperventilation. Taking deep, diaphragmatic breaths (in which the stomach, rather than the chest, expands as you inhale) can help your body and re-regulate your breathing. A benefit is that deep breathing can also activate the parasympathetic nervous system, calming the body's fight-or-flight response and reducing feelings of anxiety. 8. Dizziness Dizziness is a common symptom of panic attacks you should be aware of. In some cases, this could be secondary to taking short, shallow breaths (which affect your blood chemistry). If you experience sudden dizziness, find a safe place to sit. While a panic attack isn't inherently dangerous, dizziness could lead to falls or injuries. If you are with someone who is feeling lightheaded or dizzy due to a panic attack, have them sit down and place their head between their legs or lie down and elevate their legs. This can help regulate blood pressure and reduce feelings of faintness. 9. Fear of Losing Control Someone having a panic attack might be scared of losing control or "going crazy." A panic attack is defined as a discrete, time-bound episode of panic, and during that time, you might indeed lose control of your body and emotions. Remember that most panic attacks last just a few minutes, and you'll regain control afterward. 10. Derealization or Depersonalization Derealization and depersonalization are additional, rarer symptoms of panic attacks. When someone experiences derealization, they have a feeling of unreality, or being disconnected from reality as it is occurring around them. Depersonalization can be described as feeling detached from oneself, or as if you are observing your own behaviors but not identifying with them. During a panic attack, you might feel derealization or depersonalization, as if you're "floating above" your body or watching yourself from a distance. 11. Chest Pain or Discomfort Chest pain is one of the most distressing symptoms of panic attacks. Panic attacks are often mistaken for heart attacks due to chest pain symptoms. An older study found that approximately 25% of patients who present to their physician with symptoms of chest pain are ultimately diagnosed with panic disorder. 12. Fear of Dying In the moment, a panic attack can be so terrifying and all-consuming that you may experience fear of dying. With symptoms like heart palpitations, chest pain, and hyperventilation, it's understandable to feel like you might be dying during a panic attack. Remember, a panic attack itself cannot harm you. Illustration by Joshua Seong. © Verywell, 2018. Anxiety Attack vs. Panic Attack People often use "anxiety attack" and "panic attack" interchangeably. However, only a panic attack is defined in the DSM-5 TR with specific symptoms, while an anxiety attack can refer to a less intense episode. Complications There can be complications if a panic attack is not dealt with. These can include the following. Panic Disorder While, for some people, a panic attack might be a one-off occurrence, 2% to 3% of people will go on to develop panic disorder. Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder diagnosed by a psychiatrist or primary care provider. The DSM-5 TR explains that a person must regularly experience unexpected panic attacks to be diagnosed. At least one of these panic attacks must be followed by a one-month period of the person experiencing intense fear and avoidance behaviors around subsequent panic attacks. Avoidance Behaviors According to the DSM-5 TR, panic attacks can be either expected or unexpected. Some people can identify triggers that lead to panic attacks. Triggers may include driving, being in public, public speaking, going to the gym, and hearing loud noises like fireworks or car backfires. Avoiding triggers might reduce panic attacks but can also limit your life and relationships, causing feelings of dread. Agoraphobia Experiencing a panic attack in public or while driving leads to an increased chance of developing agoraphobia . Agoraphobia is an intense fear and avoidance of being in a situation where escape might be difficult if you have a panic attack. It can also include the fear of leaving one's home. For people with panic attacks, this is due to a fear of experiencing another attack in public. Agoraphobia can lead to functional disability and limit relationships, work, social life, leisure, and more. Cardiac Conditions People with panic disorder have higher rates of cardiac conditions, including hypertension (high blood pressure) and cardiomyopathy . Research is not definitive regarding the direction of causality, as it may be the case that people with these pre-existing cardiac conditions are more likely to experience panic as a result of their disease. Nevertheless, this is one reason it is important to seek treatment for panic disorder or ongoing panic attacks. When to See a Healthcare Provider Panic attacks can be symptoms of anxiety disorders like panic disorder, PTSD, phobia-related disorders, and social anxiety disorder. It's crucial to get an accurate diagnosis for effective treatment. See your healthcare provider if you: Experience symptoms of a panic attack Feel a sense of dread over the possibility of another panic attack Find yourself altering your routine, plans, or behaviors to avoid another one Your healthcare provider will rule out potential physical causes of your symptoms, discuss your treatment options, and may refer you to a psychiatrist for diagnosis or a psychotherapist for treatment. Verywell / Cindy Chung
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Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Ⓒ 2026 People Inc. — All rights reserved # 12 Symptoms of a Panic Attack and What to Do By [Sarah Bence, OTR/L](https://www.verywellhealth.com/sarah-bence-otr-l-5082131) Updated on November 28, 2025 Medically reviewed by [Steven Gans, MD](https://www.verywellhealth.com/steven-gans-md-4685030) Close ### Key Takeaways - Panic attacks often involve symptoms like a rapid heartbeat, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. - Panic is a normal response to extreme stress but not to more common life changes or disruptions. - Treatment can include cognitive behavior therapy and anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medications. Panic attacks can overwhelm with symptoms like heart palpitations, dizziness, and shortness of breath, transforming everyday situations into sources of fear and distress. Recognizing these signs is crucial for managing panic attacks and knowing when to see a healthcare provider. ![signs of a panic attack include chills or hot flashes, sweating, trembling or shaking, numbness and tingling, dizziness, nausea, heart palpitations, and hyperventilation]() ![signs of a panic attack include chills or hot flashes, sweating, trembling or shaking, numbness and tingling, dizziness, nausea, heart palpitations, and hyperventilation](https://www.verywellhealth.com/thmb/fAA_6hM09Vs5X9Mzr4yxq2vd-mQ=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale\(\):max_bytes\(150000\):strip_icc\(\)/signsofapanicattack-461863c90c47418996c40caadb701a20.png) ## 1\. Trembling or Shaking Trembling, shaking, and tremors are common [symptoms of many anxiety disorders](https://www.verywellhealth.com/anxiety-attack-5088600). During a panic attack, your hands and fingers might shake initially, making it difficult to hold small objects like a pen, utensils, or your phone. This can escalate to full-body trembling, making it hard to stand. It is believed that the shaking that occurs during a panic attack is an overreaction of the [sympathetic nervous system](https://www.verywellhealth.com/autonomic-nervous-system-anatomy-2488639), part of the fight-or-flight response. As your muscles tense to "take flight," or run away from the triggering situation, you will experience twitching and tremors. ### What Does a Panic Attack Feel Like? People often use words like "crushing," "pounding," "feels like an eternity," "losing my mind," and "can't get enough air" to describe panic attacks. Many people grow to dread panic attacks and alter their lifestyle to avoid having another one. They may change their routines, limit the places they go, or stay away from people who may trigger them. ## 2\. Numbness and Tingling [Paresthesias](https://www.verywellhealth.com/paresthesia-why-body-parts-fall-asleep-4153984), which is more commonly known as numbness and tingling, can also occur during a panic attack. You might experience this as numbness or "pins and needles" in areas such as your lips, face, fingers, arms, feet, and legs. This is another symptom that is due to a miscalculation of the evolutionary fight-or-flight response. During this response, blood rushes to important organs such as the heart, lungs, and central organs. This can leave "less important" body parts, in particular your extremities, lacking blood and subsequently feeling tingly. ## 3\. Chills or Hot Flashes Many people also report experiencing thermal sensations, including chills or hot flashes, during a panic attack. The physiological mechanisms behind this are not completely understood, although one theory is that this is also a result of the fight-or-flight response. Although hot flashes are listed in the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision" (DSM-5 TR) as symptoms of a panic attack, research indicates that panic can sometimes be a response to a hot flash. This may be the case for people who are in menopause when [hot flashes](https://www.verywellhealth.com/cool-ways-to-stop-hot-flashes-2322681) are often a result of hormone disruptions. Experiencing a sudden hot flash is uncomfortable and frightening and may actually trigger a panic attack on its own. ## 4\. Sweating Sweating often occurs during panic attacks. Common symptoms include clammy palms and sweating on your armpits, back, or temples. It can sometimes be hard to identify a panic attack in another person, since many of these symptoms are experienced internally. However, if you see someone excessively sweating, whether on their forehead or through their shirt when there is no obvious physical or environmental cause, one explanation could be a panic attack. ## 5\. Nausea Nausea is another frequent symptom of panic attacks. In rare instances, it may lead to vomiting. The nausea might feel like "butterflies in your stomach," a common anxiety symptom. This reaction comes from the fight-or-flight response, where excessive adrenaline can make you feel queasy. ## 6\. Heart Palpitations [Heart palpitations](https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-to-stop-heart-palpitations-due-to-anxiety-8347544) and [tachycardia](https://www.verywellhealth.com/tachycardias-the-fast-heart-rhythms-1746270), or abnormally high heart rate, are additional symptoms of a panic attack. Feeling your heart skip a beat or having an unusually high pulse can be frightening and may intensify your panic attack. Like nearly all symptoms of a panic attack, a high or irregular heart rate is linked to the fight-or-flight response. As your body is pumping out blood to important organs and large muscle groups to aid in your fighting (or running away), your heart will work overtime. ## 7\. Breathing Problems The DSM-5 TR lists [shortness of breath](https://www.verywellhealth.com/shortness-of-breath-from-anxiety-8745156), or feelings of choking or being smothered, as symptoms of a panic attack. These respiratory symptoms can also present as hyperventilation. Taking deep, diaphragmatic breaths (in which the stomach, rather than the chest, expands as you inhale) can help your body and re-regulate your breathing. A benefit is that deep breathing can also activate the parasympathetic nervous system, calming the body's fight-or-flight response and reducing feelings of anxiety. ## 8\. Dizziness Dizziness is a common symptom of panic attacks you should be aware of. In some cases, this could be secondary to taking short, shallow breaths (which affect your blood chemistry). If you experience sudden dizziness, find a safe place to sit. While a panic attack isn't inherently dangerous, dizziness could lead to falls or injuries. If you are with someone who is feeling lightheaded or dizzy due to a panic attack, have them sit down and place their head between their legs or lie down and elevate their legs. This can help regulate blood pressure and reduce feelings of faintness. ## 9\. Fear of Losing Control Someone having a panic attack might be scared of losing control or "going crazy." A panic attack is defined as a discrete, time-bound episode of panic, and during that time, you might indeed lose control of your body and emotions. Remember that most panic attacks last just a few minutes, and you'll regain control afterward. ## 10\. Derealization or Depersonalization Derealization and depersonalization are additional, rarer symptoms of panic attacks. When someone experiences derealization, they have a feeling of unreality, or being disconnected from reality as it is occurring around them. Depersonalization can be described as feeling detached from oneself, or as if you are observing your own behaviors but not identifying with them. During a panic attack, you might feel derealization or depersonalization, as if you're "floating above" your body or watching yourself from a distance. ## 11\. Chest Pain or Discomfort Chest pain is one of the most distressing symptoms of panic attacks. Panic attacks are often mistaken for heart attacks due to chest pain symptoms. An older study found that approximately 25% of patients who present to their physician with symptoms of chest pain are ultimately diagnosed with panic disorder. ## 12\. Fear of Dying In the moment, a panic attack can be so terrifying and all-consuming that you may experience fear of dying. With symptoms like heart palpitations, chest pain, and hyperventilation, it's understandable to feel like you might be dying during a panic attack. Remember, a panic attack itself cannot harm you. ![Panic Attacks vs. Anxiety]() ![Panic Attacks vs. Anxiety](https://www.verywellhealth.com/thmb/eoqX8Mzi4YkscP8Fdn7St00LeYM=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale\(\):max_bytes\(150000\):strip_icc\(\)/2584396-article-anxiety-attacks-versus-panic-attacks-5a7b5f8a1d64040037fce67f.png) Illustration by Joshua Seong. © Verywell, 2018. ### Anxiety Attack vs. Panic Attack People often use "anxiety attack" and "panic attack" interchangeably. However, only a panic attack is defined in the DSM-5 TR with specific symptoms, while an [anxiety attack](https://www.verywellhealth.com/anxiety-attack-5088600) can refer to a less intense episode. ## Complications There can be complications if a panic attack is not dealt with. These can include the following. ### Panic Disorder While, for some people, a panic attack might be a one-off occurrence, 2% to 3% of people will go on to develop panic disorder. Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder diagnosed by a psychiatrist or primary care provider. The DSM-5 TR explains that a person must regularly experience unexpected panic attacks to be diagnosed. At least one of these panic attacks must be followed by a one-month period of the person experiencing intense fear and avoidance behaviors around subsequent panic attacks. ### Avoidance Behaviors According to the DSM-5 TR, panic attacks can be either expected or unexpected. Some people can identify triggers that lead to panic attacks. Triggers may include driving, being in public, public speaking, going to the gym, and hearing loud noises like fireworks or car backfires. Avoiding triggers might reduce panic attacks but can also limit your life and relationships, causing feelings of dread. ### Agoraphobia Experiencing a panic attack in public or while driving leads to an increased chance of developing [agoraphobia](https://www.verywellmind.com/agoraphobia-101-2584235). Agoraphobia is an intense fear and avoidance of being in a situation where escape might be difficult if you have a panic attack. It can also include the fear of leaving one's home. For people with panic attacks, this is due to a fear of experiencing another attack in public. Agoraphobia can lead to functional disability and limit relationships, work, social life, leisure, and more. ### Cardiac Conditions People with panic disorder have higher rates of cardiac conditions, including hypertension (high blood pressure) and cardiomyopathy. Research is not definitive regarding the direction of causality, as it may be the case that people with these pre-existing cardiac conditions are more likely to experience panic as a result of their disease. Nevertheless, this is one reason it is important to seek treatment for panic disorder or ongoing panic attacks. ## When to See a Healthcare Provider Panic attacks can be symptoms of anxiety disorders like panic disorder, PTSD, phobia-related disorders, and social anxiety disorder. It's crucial to get an accurate diagnosis for effective treatment. See your healthcare provider if you: - Experience symptoms of a panic attack - Feel a sense of dread over the possibility of another panic attack - Find yourself altering your routine, plans, or behaviors to avoid another one Your healthcare provider will rule out potential physical causes of your symptoms, discuss your treatment options, and may refer you to a psychiatrist for diagnosis or a psychotherapist for [treatment.](https://www.verywellhealth.com/medications-for-anxiety-and-depression-8348994) If you or someone you care about is experiencing panic attacks, contact the [Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline](https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline) at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area. Verywell / Cindy Chung Read more: - [Health A-Z](https://www.verywellhealth.com/health-a-z-4014770) - [Mental Health](https://www.verywellhealth.com/mental-health-5079153) - [Anxiety Disorders](https://www.verywellhealth.com/anxiety-disorders-5205106) 6 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our [editorial process](https://www.verywellhealth.com/verywell-editorial-process-4777042) to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. 1. National Institute of Mental Health. [Panic disorder: When fear overwhelms](https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/panic-disorder-when-fear-overwhelms/index.shtml). 2. American Psychiatric Association. [Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 5th ed., text rev. (DSM-5 TR)](https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787). 3. Freeman EW, Sammel MD. [Anxiety as a risk factor for menopausal hot flashes: evidence from the Penn Ovarian Aging Cohort](https://dx.doi.org/10.1097%2FGME.0000000000000662). Menopause. 2016;23(9):942-949. doi:10.1097/GME.000000000000066 4. Jerath R, Crawford MW, Barnes VA, Harden K. [Self-regulation of breathing as a primary treatment for anxiety](https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-015-9279-8). Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2015;40(2):107-115. doi:10.1007/s10484-015-9279-8 5. U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. [Agoraphobia](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000923.htm). 6. Caldirola D, Schruers KR, Nardi AE, De Berardis D, Fornaro M, Perna G. [Is there cardiac risk in panic disorder? An updated systematic review](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2016.01.003). J Affect Disord. 2016;194:38–49. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2016.01.003 ![Brown haired white woman wearing a light blue sweater looks directly into camera]() ![Brown haired white woman wearing a light blue sweater looks directly into camera](https://www.verywellhealth.com/thmb/u8NJfqtIywpVRy1X4mU9wXuO9WU=/144x144/filters:no_upscale\(\):max_bytes\(150000\):strip_icc\(\)/headshotverwell-1334973c32f9429493c7979e6384b8ff.jpg) By [Sarah Bence, OTR/L](https://www.verywellhealth.com/sarah-bence-otr-l-5082131) Bence is an occupational therapist with a range of work experience in mental healthcare settings. She is living with celiac disease and endometriosis. [See Our Editorial Process](https://www.verywellhealth.com/verywell-editorial-process-4777042) [Meet Our Medical Expert Board](https://www.verywellhealth.com/meet-our-medical-expert-board-11762003) Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback\! What is your feedback? 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Readable Markdown	### Key Takeaways - Panic attacks often involve symptoms like a rapid heartbeat, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. - Panic is a normal response to extreme stress but not to more common life changes or disruptions. - Treatment can include cognitive behavior therapy and anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medications. Panic attacks can overwhelm with symptoms like heart palpitations, dizziness, and shortness of breath, transforming everyday situations into sources of fear and distress. Recognizing these signs is crucial for managing panic attacks and knowing when to see a healthcare provider. ## 1\. Trembling or Shaking Trembling, shaking, and tremors are common [symptoms of many anxiety disorders](https://www.verywellhealth.com/anxiety-attack-5088600). During a panic attack, your hands and fingers might shake initially, making it difficult to hold small objects like a pen, utensils, or your phone. This can escalate to full-body trembling, making it hard to stand. It is believed that the shaking that occurs during a panic attack is an overreaction of the [sympathetic nervous system](https://www.verywellhealth.com/autonomic-nervous-system-anatomy-2488639), part of the fight-or-flight response. As your muscles tense to "take flight," or run away from the triggering situation, you will experience twitching and tremors. ### What Does a Panic Attack Feel Like? People often use words like "crushing," "pounding," "feels like an eternity," "losing my mind," and "can't get enough air" to describe panic attacks. Many people grow to dread panic attacks and alter their lifestyle to avoid having another one. They may change their routines, limit the places they go, or stay away from people who may trigger them. ## 2\. Numbness and Tingling [Paresthesias](https://www.verywellhealth.com/paresthesia-why-body-parts-fall-asleep-4153984), which is more commonly known as numbness and tingling, can also occur during a panic attack. You might experience this as numbness or "pins and needles" in areas such as your lips, face, fingers, arms, feet, and legs. This is another symptom that is due to a miscalculation of the evolutionary fight-or-flight response. During this response, blood rushes to important organs such as the heart, lungs, and central organs. This can leave "less important" body parts, in particular your extremities, lacking blood and subsequently feeling tingly. ## 3\. Chills or Hot Flashes Many people also report experiencing thermal sensations, including chills or hot flashes, during a panic attack. The physiological mechanisms behind this are not completely understood, although one theory is that this is also a result of the fight-or-flight response. Although hot flashes are listed in the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision" (DSM-5 TR) as symptoms of a panic attack, research indicates that panic can sometimes be a response to a hot flash. This may be the case for people who are in menopause when [hot flashes](https://www.verywellhealth.com/cool-ways-to-stop-hot-flashes-2322681) are often a result of hormone disruptions. Experiencing a sudden hot flash is uncomfortable and frightening and may actually trigger a panic attack on its own. ## 4\. Sweating Sweating often occurs during panic attacks. Common symptoms include clammy palms and sweating on your armpits, back, or temples. It can sometimes be hard to identify a panic attack in another person, since many of these symptoms are experienced internally. However, if you see someone excessively sweating, whether on their forehead or through their shirt when there is no obvious physical or environmental cause, one explanation could be a panic attack. ## 5\. Nausea Nausea is another frequent symptom of panic attacks. In rare instances, it may lead to vomiting. The nausea might feel like "butterflies in your stomach," a common anxiety symptom. This reaction comes from the fight-or-flight response, where excessive adrenaline can make you feel queasy. ## 6\. Heart Palpitations [Heart palpitations](https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-to-stop-heart-palpitations-due-to-anxiety-8347544) and [tachycardia](https://www.verywellhealth.com/tachycardias-the-fast-heart-rhythms-1746270), or abnormally high heart rate, are additional symptoms of a panic attack. Feeling your heart skip a beat or having an unusually high pulse can be frightening and may intensify your panic attack. Like nearly all symptoms of a panic attack, a high or irregular heart rate is linked to the fight-or-flight response. As your body is pumping out blood to important organs and large muscle groups to aid in your fighting (or running away), your heart will work overtime. ## 7\. Breathing Problems The DSM-5 TR lists [shortness of breath](https://www.verywellhealth.com/shortness-of-breath-from-anxiety-8745156), or feelings of choking or being smothered, as symptoms of a panic attack. These respiratory symptoms can also present as hyperventilation. Taking deep, diaphragmatic breaths (in which the stomach, rather than the chest, expands as you inhale) can help your body and re-regulate your breathing. A benefit is that deep breathing can also activate the parasympathetic nervous system, calming the body's fight-or-flight response and reducing feelings of anxiety. ## 8\. Dizziness Dizziness is a common symptom of panic attacks you should be aware of. In some cases, this could be secondary to taking short, shallow breaths (which affect your blood chemistry). If you experience sudden dizziness, find a safe place to sit. While a panic attack isn't inherently dangerous, dizziness could lead to falls or injuries. If you are with someone who is feeling lightheaded or dizzy due to a panic attack, have them sit down and place their head between their legs or lie down and elevate their legs. This can help regulate blood pressure and reduce feelings of faintness. ## 9\. Fear of Losing Control Someone having a panic attack might be scared of losing control or "going crazy." A panic attack is defined as a discrete, time-bound episode of panic, and during that time, you might indeed lose control of your body and emotions. Remember that most panic attacks last just a few minutes, and you'll regain control afterward. ## 10\. Derealization or Depersonalization Derealization and depersonalization are additional, rarer symptoms of panic attacks. When someone experiences derealization, they have a feeling of unreality, or being disconnected from reality as it is occurring around them. Depersonalization can be described as feeling detached from oneself, or as if you are observing your own behaviors but not identifying with them. During a panic attack, you might feel derealization or depersonalization, as if you're "floating above" your body or watching yourself from a distance. ## 11\. Chest Pain or Discomfort Chest pain is one of the most distressing symptoms of panic attacks. Panic attacks are often mistaken for heart attacks due to chest pain symptoms. An older study found that approximately 25% of patients who present to their physician with symptoms of chest pain are ultimately diagnosed with panic disorder. ## 12\. Fear of Dying In the moment, a panic attack can be so terrifying and all-consuming that you may experience fear of dying. With symptoms like heart palpitations, chest pain, and hyperventilation, it's understandable to feel like you might be dying during a panic attack. Remember, a panic attack itself cannot harm you. Illustration by Joshua Seong. © Verywell, 2018. ### Anxiety Attack vs. Panic Attack People often use "anxiety attack" and "panic attack" interchangeably. However, only a panic attack is defined in the DSM-5 TR with specific symptoms, while an [anxiety attack](https://www.verywellhealth.com/anxiety-attack-5088600) can refer to a less intense episode. ## Complications There can be complications if a panic attack is not dealt with. These can include the following. ### Panic Disorder While, for some people, a panic attack might be a one-off occurrence, 2% to 3% of people will go on to develop panic disorder. Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder diagnosed by a psychiatrist or primary care provider. The DSM-5 TR explains that a person must regularly experience unexpected panic attacks to be diagnosed. At least one of these panic attacks must be followed by a one-month period of the person experiencing intense fear and avoidance behaviors around subsequent panic attacks. ### Avoidance Behaviors According to the DSM-5 TR, panic attacks can be either expected or unexpected. Some people can identify triggers that lead to panic attacks. Triggers may include driving, being in public, public speaking, going to the gym, and hearing loud noises like fireworks or car backfires. Avoiding triggers might reduce panic attacks but can also limit your life and relationships, causing feelings of dread. ### Agoraphobia Experiencing a panic attack in public or while driving leads to an increased chance of developing [agoraphobia](https://www.verywellmind.com/agoraphobia-101-2584235). Agoraphobia is an intense fear and avoidance of being in a situation where escape might be difficult if you have a panic attack. It can also include the fear of leaving one's home. For people with panic attacks, this is due to a fear of experiencing another attack in public. Agoraphobia can lead to functional disability and limit relationships, work, social life, leisure, and more. ### Cardiac Conditions People with panic disorder have higher rates of cardiac conditions, including hypertension (high blood pressure) and cardiomyopathy. Research is not definitive regarding the direction of causality, as it may be the case that people with these pre-existing cardiac conditions are more likely to experience panic as a result of their disease. Nevertheless, this is one reason it is important to seek treatment for panic disorder or ongoing panic attacks. ## When to See a Healthcare Provider Panic attacks can be symptoms of anxiety disorders like panic disorder, PTSD, phobia-related disorders, and social anxiety disorder. It's crucial to get an accurate diagnosis for effective treatment. See your healthcare provider if you: - Experience symptoms of a panic attack - Feel a sense of dread over the possibility of another panic attack - Find yourself altering your routine, plans, or behaviors to avoid another one Your healthcare provider will rule out potential physical causes of your symptoms, discuss your treatment options, and may refer you to a psychiatrist for diagnosis or a psychotherapist for [treatment.](https://www.verywellhealth.com/medications-for-anxiety-and-depression-8348994) Verywell / Cindy Chung
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