A panic attack is a discrete
period of intense fear or discomfort emerging from either a calm or anxious
state, in which four (or more) of the following symptoms develop abruptly and
reach a peak within minutes:
- Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate
- Sweating
- Trembling or shaking
- Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
- Feeling of choking
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Nausea or abdominal distress
- Feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
- Derealization (feelings of unreality) or
depersonalization (being detached from oneself)
- Fear of losing control or going crazy
- Fear of dying
- Paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensations)
- Chills or heat sensations
Panic attack is not a mental disorder and cannot be
coded as so. Because they represent a constellation of co-occurring symptoms
that tend to arise together in certain contexts, disorders, and patients. Panic
attacks can occur in the context of any anxiety disorder as well as other
mental disorders (e.g., depressive disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder,
substance use disorders) and some medical conditions (e.g., cardiac,
respiratory, vestibular, gastrointestinal).
Panic attacks can occur at any time, even
during sleep. An attack usually peaks within 10 minutes, but some symptoms may
last much longer.
People who have full-blown, repeated panic
attacks can become very disabled by their condition and should seek treatment
before they start to avoid places or situations where panic attacks have
occurred. For example, if a panic attack happened in an elevator, someone with
panic disorder may develop a fear of elevators that could affect the choice of
a job or an apartment, and restrict where that person can seek medical
attention or enjoy entertainment.
Some people’s lives become so restricted that
they avoid normal activities, such as grocery shopping or driving. About
one-third become housebound or are able to confront a feared situation only
when accompanied by a spouse or other trusted person. When the condition
progresses this far, it is called agoraphobia, or fear of open spaces.
To read the stories of people who have suffered from panic attacks, please click here.
