Recognizing a Panic Attack

A panic attack is an intense wave of fear characterized by its unexpectedness and debilitating, immobilizing intensity. Panic attacks can feel different for everyone, and largely depend on your personal experience.  These attacks are quite common, and in the United States alone affect more than 40 million people. 

Panic Symptoms

One characteristic that makes it a panic attack is that it comes out of the blue. It’s generally not associated with what’s happening right in front of you which is what distinguishes it from an anxiety attack which is more of a buildup of anxiety in the body.  They unset so quickly which makes them feel so scary. They can happen during the day or even wake you up at night. I often hear people say, mine are so different because they are while I’m sleeping but actually this is pretty common. But night time panic attacks can feel disorienting because they wake you up from sleep and it’s hard to get your bearings of what is going on.  

So how do I know if I’m having a panic attack? We are going to start with some common symptoms:

• Shortness of breath or breathing difficulties 

• Feeling weak, faint or dizzy 

• Nausea or abdominal stress 

• A racing heart 

• Tingling or numbness 

• Feeling of loss of control or safety; like having thought’s that you are dying or going crazy 

• Hot flashes or chills 

• Trembling or shaking 

• Feeling of chocking 

• Feelings of unreality or being detached from oneself  

It can be extremely helpful to know the symptoms because many end up in the emergency room because they are not aware they are having a panic attack.  And while a panic attack does not typically illicit an emergency room visit is should include looping in your primary care physician. 

Causes of Panic Attacks

What causes panic attacks?  Severe stress like a job loss, divorce, betrayal, severe financial loss, death of a loved one or unresolved trauma are all examples of what can onset panic attacks.  Unresolved trauma is not one you hear about often but it’s actually the most common one I see in the counseling office. For instance, you might be raised by a parent who had a significant mental illness like alcoholism, bi-polar or depression but then as you age you add on marital/children stressors and suddenly you find yourself having panic attacks.  The unresolved childhood trauma coupled with current life stressors can lead to them. But also, things like high levels of alcohol or drugs can trigger one. In your twenties you see more and more women having them during the college years, planning a wedding, a getting married and even after you have your first child. There is also a medical side to panic attacks were certain medical conditions, certain medications and other physical causes.  An example would be a low resting heart rate can trigger one so a medical check-up is needed after you have your first panic attack.  

What Do I Do?

What do I do if I find myself having panic attacks?  Go see and tell your doctor as well as seek out counseling.  I know it’s hard to reach out for help and there can still be some stigma around panic attacks but life is too short to suffer with them alone.  Seek out a professional counselor. I have specific training on panic attacks and how to use EMDR therapy to help treat and resolve them but most counselors know how to treat them.  Remember, you are not alone, many people have had one or more panic attacks in their lifetime to reach out to a close friend and tell them.