Twenty Symptoms of a Panic Attack

A panic attack is a period of time where the sufferer feels an intense dread an

anxious feeling of fear that develops swiftly and usually hits a peak within eight minutes. It is extremely distressful for the patient, and those who are able to recognize the symptoms of panic attacks may be in a better position to comfort and calm the person quickly.

Symptoms of panic attacks most commonly last for around 30 minutes, although many people suffer from much shorter panic attacks, or even an extended cycle of attacks which can last for hours. In the case of extended attacks the afflicted can also experience a high level of anxiety waiting for each attack to occur.

The clinical definition for a panic attack is slightly complicated. The DSM-IV (Diagnosis Criteria for Panic Attack) classifies an episode as a panic attack when the sufferer feels at least four of a list of twenty symptoms.

These are:

-Excessive sweating

-Accelerated heart rate

-Intense shaking or trembling

-Tense muscles

-Shortness of breath, or feelings of smothering

-Feeling of choking

-Chest pain or chest discomfort

-Abdominal distress or nausea

-Dizziness or feeling lightheaded

-Things feel unreal', or the person feels detached from themselves

-Fear of going insane

-Fear of death

-Numbness or tingling

-Hot flashes or intense chills

-Weak knees

-Confusion

-Tunnel vision

-Inability to think straight

-Intense feeling that you need to escape

-Time appears to be passing very slowly

When one feels four or more of these symptoms in tandem, then it can be considered that one is having a panic attack. In this case the sufferer can try to regulate themselves, first by being aware of what is happening to their body.

There may be few physical things that the sufferer can do, but to try and remain calm and realize the symptoms of the attack will eventually pass with time. They should sit down and try to breathe normally, removing any element in the room that may have brought on the attack.

It is common for people to try breathing into a paper bag, but this has recently been criticized as being detrimental to a person suffering from a panic attack because it drastically lowers vital oxygen's availability to the body.

Twenty Symptoms of a Panic Attack

By: Elizabeth Hayes

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