Panic Attacks

What is a panic attack?

According to Mayo Clinic, "a panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause." The symptoms include pounding or racing heart, sweating, chills, trembling, difficulty breathing, weakness or dizziness, chest pain, and stomach pain or nausea. Some describe the feeling of a panic attack as suffocating and can even be mistaken for a heart attack. Panic attacks can last from five minutes to almost an hour.

So, how does it start? It starts with your heart beating faster than normal. You then start to breathe heavier and faster. Your chest starts to tighten, sometimes causing you to feel like you are choking. As you are experiencing this, your heart rate increases. You start to feel dizzy and your vision blurs. Your legs may start to tingle, and your hands may go numb. You feel so exhausted, you're sweating, and your body wants to collapse. You become so overwhelmed; you may even start to cry. As these feelings are at their peak, you sit at this plateau of panic and wonder, "Why is this happening?" "Why won't it stop?" "Am I dying?" Then comes the downfall. Your breathing becomes more regular, and your heart rate is coming back to normal. You may have a sore jaw from clenching your teeth or sore muscles from clenching your body. You feel nauseous and tired. All you want to do is sleep off the fatigue.

What was just described, is the symptoms of the average panic attack. There are many things that can trigger a panic attack. Lingering stress at work or at home, a traumatic event, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major life changes. It could be a number of things, but sometimes there is no reason at all. You could be working on your computer, doing your daily routine, and all the sudden, you are in a full-blown panic attack. Anxiety and panic disorders may also be a cause of panic attacks. Family history takes a part in this, just like many other conditions. Anxiety and panic disorders often run-in families, but experts aren't sure why. According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America "Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults (19.1 percent of the population) age 18 and older every year"

There are many ways to help yourself when you are going through a panic attack. As cliché as it sounds, breathing is a great way to calm your nerves. You can try counting breaths or count things around you for each of your five senses. For example, you would name five things you can see, four things you can hear, and so on. Going through each sense, it can calm you down. Panic attacks are treatable with the right medication and cognitive behavioral therapy. There are many resources available for those seeking help, not only in your community but also online.

If you need help, it is okay to ask for it. Dial 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.