Panic Attacks Like What? Recognize 11 Symptoms

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JAKARTA - Panic attacks are episodes of sudden anxiety with excessive body responses to threats or dangers, both real and felt. This sudden spike in fear or anxiety causes certain physical and psychological symptoms. These symptoms often reach peak intensity in just a few minutes.

Symptoms of panic attacks can immediately respond to something surprising or scary, but can also occur for no apparent reason.

For many people, panic attacks may be one-time events. For others, it may be a recurring thing. This usually happens in the context of mental health conditions such as panic gpeangguan.

During a panic attack, you can experience physical, emotional, and cognitive symptoms at once. According to the Mental Disorder Diagnostic and Statistics Manual, 5th edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR), according to Psych Central, Tuesday, September 3, if you experience the following four or more symptoms of panic attacks, it means you have a panic disorder.

Palpitation of the heart and heart palpitations

Common symptoms of panic attacks are heart rate getting faster. You may feel or hear your heart beating harder or faster, or feel your pulse beating harder. Your heart rate will usually slow down when a panic attack and the symptoms ease.

Sweating

As part of your panic response, you may start sweating. This can feel uncomfortable especially if you are in public. But these symptoms usually only last for a few minutes and get better soon.

Tremble

One of the first symptoms that may be experienced during a panic attack is excessive shaking and out of control on your hands and feet. You may still be shaking, although not too intense, a few hours after the symptoms of another panic attack end. The shaking will ease even more when you recover and calm. Although uncomfortable, the symptoms of this panic attack usually don't show any physical problems.

Shortness of breath and the sensation of air

During panic attacks, many people experience hyperventilation or feel like exposure. This can cause you to cough, choke, or even vomit. Even though these symptoms are intense and uncomfortable, it's a natural response to the adrenaline spike you're experiencing. Try to focus on calming your breathing by pulling and breathing deeply. Regular breathing rate will return within 5 to 30 minutes.

Feeling dizzy

As with shortness of breath, feeling like death can also be caused by hyperventilation. Care can worsen the symptoms of your panic attacks. Although it's hard to deal with panic attacks, try to remember that this is the result of anxiety and not physical conditions and you're actually not stumbling. This can help you regain control of your breathing and feel better faster.

Chest pain or discomfort

Between heart palpitation and hyperventilation, you may also experience anxiety and chest pain. The first time this happens is often the most frightening time, because you may think it's the heart and don't realize that this is a symptom of panic.

Although comfort in the chest is a common symptom of panic attacks, it's important to seek medical treatment if you've never had chest pain before. This can help you get rid of the underlying heart condition.

Nausea or stomach disorders

Another consequence of all the adrenaline is nausea or stomach pain. These symptoms can worsen just at the peak of a panic attack, in the first 10 minutes. Sometimes, you may still feel nauseous a few hours after the attack ends. Anxiety in general can cause stomach disorders.

Fear of losing control

If this is one of the first panic attacks you've experienced, intense symptoms can make you feel like you've lost control or your understanding of reality. You may also feel like everything is getting closer to you. This is just a temporary feeling, a product of all the physiological processes that occur in your body, and not an indication of your mental health.

Fear of death

Fear of death is one of the most common symptoms of panic attacks, especially for initial attacks or for people who rarely experience panic attacks. Among physical symptoms and intense anxiety, you may start to worry about your personal safety. However, these feelings are a direct result of panic, so they don't always show physical or life-threatening problems.

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If you start to feel a sensation like a needle stabbed all over your body, it may be caused by anxiety and adrenaline. You can also feel numb or freeze for a moment. This sensation is often lost in a few minutes.

Cold or heat

Usually associated with excessive sweat, you can also experience unbearable cold or heat. This is an effort for your body to adapt to adrenaline and panic waves.

You can also experience other symptoms such as crying, headaches, or vomiting. However, to receive a diagnosis of panic attacks, you still have to have at least four detailed symptoms above.