Panic Attacks

Panic Attacks

Panic attacks can be caused by heredity, chemical imbalances, stress, and the use of stimulants such as caffeine or drugs. Panic attacks are often described as occurring suddenly and involving intense feelings of fear with symptoms that are often considered severe and disruptive. During panic attacks, the body’s fight or flight response often takes over, which leads to a more abrupt response compared to anxiety attacks.

Symptoms

Both panic and anxiety attacks can share the following symptoms such as:

• Accelerated heart rate
• Chest pain
• Chills
• Dry mouth
• Headache
• Lightheadedness or disorientation
• Nausea
• Numbness
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Tightness in the throat
• Trembling

Panic attacks typically reach their peak level of intensity in 10 minutes or less before beginning to subside. Unlike anxiety attacks,  panic attacks can occur unexpectedly without any clear triggers.