What Does a Panic Attack Feel Like? Symptoms and Duration
Anxiety Disorders We Support
A panic attack can involve sudden intense fear alongside symptoms such as chest discomfort, a racing heart or breathlessness. These sensations can be frightening and may resemble other health problems. Learning about panic can be helpful, but seek medical advice for new or concerning symptoms rather than assuming they are caused by anxiety.
The Physical Symptoms of a Panic Attack
A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear accompanied by a cluster of physical symptoms. The most commonly reported experiences include: a pounding or racing heartbeat; chest pain or tightness; shortness of breath or a choking sensation; dizziness or light-headedness; tingling or numbness in the hands, feet, or face; sweating or chills; nausea; a sense that you might faint; trembling or shaking; and a powerful sensation that something catastrophic is about to happen.
Panic attacks typically reach their peak within 10 minutes and resolve — in terms of the acute physical symptoms — within 20 to 30 minutes. However, the exhaustion, residual anxiety, and fear of another attack can persist for hours.
Panic Attack vs Heart Attack: How to Tell the Difference
Panic attacks and cardiac problems can share symptoms, and it is not always possible to tell the difference based on how you feel. If you have chest pain, difficulty breathing or other potentially urgent symptoms, seek immediate medical assessment. If you are unsure, contact emergency services. A clinician can assess your symptoms and advise on next steps.
What Causes Panic Attacks?
Panic attacks are generated by a hypersensitive amygdala — the brain's threat-detection system. The amygdala is responsible for the fight-or-flight response, which is a survival mechanism. In people who develop panic disorder, the amygdala becomes calibrated to fire at an inappropriate threshold — producing a full emergency response to situations or sensations that pose no real danger.
Once the first panic attack has occurred, a secondary problem develops: anticipatory anxiety. The fear of having another panic attack becomes its own source of amygdala activation, creating a vicious cycle in which the anxiety about panic attacks causes the very physiological state from which panic attacks emerge.
Why Panic Attacks Occur During Sleep
Nocturnal panic attacks involve waking suddenly with intense fear and physical symptoms such as a pounding heart or gasping. They can feel alarming and may have different causes. If episodes are new, recurring or concerning, consult a healthcare professional to discuss assessment and support.
Support and Strategies for Panic Attacks
Grounding, breathing exercises and other coping strategies may help some people manage distress during a panic attack, although what is useful varies from person to person. Recurrent panic attacks or fear of future attacks are worth discussing with a healthcare professional. Psychological therapies and other forms of support may be considered based on an individual assessment.
