Panic Attack Symptoms: A First-hand Account Of The Symptoms Experienced During A Panic Attack
I have experienced a panic attack a few times in my life. When I did experience them, I was so scared and didn’t know what was going on. Here are the main symptoms of panic attacks that I had:
-Shortness of breath
-Heart palpitations
-Chest pain or heavy feeling on chest
-Increased heart rate
-Sweating or being feverish, often in parts of the body other than your head (i.e. my hands were sweating)
-Shaking
-Feeling like I might pass out or die
-Dizzy, lightheaded, woozy feeling (similar to having low blood sugar)
-Becoming paralyzed or immobile and not being able to move or speak
I think that if you have the first 2 symptoms (shortness of breath and heart palpitations), you should seek help immediately. It’s crucial that you check yourself into the hospital and get a CAT scan, because they can detect some problems very quickly. If you have the symptoms of "Dizzy, lightheaded, woozy feeling", then stay calm and drive yourself to the emergency room (if you don’t drive, call a friend or parent). If you have "Feeling like I might pass out or die", go sleep in your own bed with a pillow or something to hold on to. If you have "Chest pain or heavy feeling on chest", try to breathe in and out a few times. If you have "Increased heart rate", do some exercise to lower your heart rate (if you don’t want to do exercise, just breathe in and out really fast as if you were having sex) .
I hope this helps with all the symptoms of panic attacks. Panic attacks can be scary, but there are steps that can be taken to prevent them from being severe or happening again.
-Declared Student
-Akash Saha
In the modern age, many people have adrenal hypomas and get their first panic attacks. I myself was diagnosed with it a few years ago. I have to have steroid shots once a week to keep my body from swelling. It's an extremely uncomfortable feeling for me to have injections in my arm, so I opt to just make the injections myself in case something goes wrong. I know that I can't really prepare myself for a panic attack, but here are some things I've learned to help with it when I feel them coming on.
I find that if you start feeling anxious in your body (i.e. there's a tingling sensation in your hands, or your legs feel wobbly), it's good to distract yourself with something like an activity you enjoy. This can be sports, video games, listening to music, etc. That way, you're not focusing on your body's anxiety-inducing symptoms.
It's also a good idea to speak to someone who knows what you're feeling and can help tell you if your body is actually beginning to panic. If you don't have anyone who can tell if your body is starting to panic, then it's a good idea to keep calm and not worry about it. It makes me feel better, knowing that the panic isn't really all that bad anyway.
Another thing I've learned over the years is to calm my body down as soon as it start getting all anxious. The best way I know how to do this is by breathing. Don't breathe too deeply, but deep enough that your lungs are full, and then slowly exhale through your mouth. This prevents an obvious sighing sound, which can cause others to think you're having a panic attack.
The thing I also find extremely helpful is visualization (i.e. imagine a tranquil place where you feel safe). I sometimes picture the beach, the lake, or just a quiet grassy meadow. This helps me feel better because I'm focusing on something different, and I feel like I'm going to go somewhere nice in my head rather than experience panic attacks.
Lastly, if you have a panic attack, it's easy to get carried away by it. Try not to think about it too much. Tell yourself (I know this sounds stupid) that you're fine right now and that you're safe. It might be hard to believe, but most of the time you'll actually get better from thinking that.
Source: Graduated from Blue Mountain College in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Animal Science.
Publications: Angelica McClure, "National Emergency Management Agency," Student Publication, Blue Mountain College, 2007-2008
http://www.bluemountaincollege.edu/news/
Gerald Getty, "Panic Disorder," Student Publication, Blue Mountain College, 2007-2008
http://www.bluemountaincollege.edu/news/
Alma School of Medicine : http://www.almashealth.org/professionals_subjects.cfm?SSID=1008&SSName=...
Conclusion:
The symptoms of panic attacks are usually caused by anxiety. Stress is said to be the main cause of anxiety. When someone is stressed, they think they're having a heart attack and start to panic. Panic attacks can also be triggered by certain drugs or medicinal herbs such as cannabis, caffeine and alcohol. People who stress easily are susceptible to panic attacks, so if you have a tendency to get anxious when you're under pressure, stay calm and use positive thinking techniques such as meditation and self-hypnosis.
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