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Panic attack

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A panic attack is a period of intense, often temporarily debilitating, sense of extreme fear or psychological distress, typically of abrupt onset. Though it is often a purely terrifying feeling to the sufferer, panic attacks are actually an evolutionary body response often known as the fight-or-flight response occurring out of context. Symptoms may include trembling, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, chest pain (or chest tightness), sweating, nausea, dizziness (or slight vertigo), light-headedness, hyperventilation, paresthesias (tingling sensations), and sensations of choking, smothering and dreamlike and disconnected sensations. During a panic attack, the body typically releases large amounts of adrenaline into the bloodstream. Many first time sufferers of a panic attack believe they are dying, going insane or having a heart attack. Many say panic attacks are the most frightening experiences of their lives. Repeated and seemingly unprovoked panic attacks may be a sign of panic disorder, but panic attacks are associated with other anxiety disorders as well. For example, people who suffer from phobias may experience panic attacks upon exposure to certain triggers. People with panic disorder often can be successfully treated with therapy and/or anti-anxiety medication or antidepressants.


Most sufferers of panic attacks report a fear of dying, "going crazy", having a heart attack, fainting, vomiting, or losing control of emotions or behavior. These feelings generally provoke a strong urge to escape or flee the place where the attack began ("fight or flight" reaction) and, when associated with chest pain or shortness of breath frequently result in the sufferer seeking medical attention, often in an emergency room. Panic attacks have been linked to high quantities of acetylcholinesterase in the blood. [How to reference and link to summary or text] Also the release of adreno-cortisols aid in catalyzing the panic attacks. [How to reference and link to summary or text]

The panic attack is distinguished from other forms of anxiety by its intensity and its sudden, episodic nature. Panic attacks are often experienced by sufferers of anxiety disorders and other psychological conditions involving anxiety, though panic attacks are not always indicative of a mental disorder, nor are they uncommon. In fact, some sufferers are not under any "fear" or any psychological illness but are under extreme amounts of stress and anxiety resulting in a panic attack or an anxiety attack. Up to 10 percent of otherwise healthy people experience an isolated panic attack about once per year, and 1 in 60 people in the U.S. will suffer from a panic disorder at some point in their lifetime.

When the sufferer experiences more than four bodily symptoms at once it is said that they have had a full-blown panic attack, while experiencing four or fewer symptoms constitutes a limited symptom attack.


A panic attack typically lasts ten minutes according to the American Psychological Association. However, panic attacks can be short lived (1-4 minutes) as well. More severe panic attacks may form a series of episodes waxing and waning every few minutes, lasting for a period of up to two hours, only to be ended by physical exhaustion and sleep.[How to reference and link to summary or text]

In conditions of chronic anxiety, one panic attack can roll into another, leading to nervous exhaustion over a period of hours or even days.


People with phobias will often experience panic attacks as a direct result of exposure to their trigger. These panic attacks are usually short-lived and self-limiting, as they will subside once the trigger is no longer present.

Hyperventilation alone can bring about some of the symptoms of a panic attack. However, the person experiencing the panic attack often does not realize this and sees these symptoms as further evidence of how serious their condition is. An ensuing positive feedback loop of adrenaline release fuels worsening physical symptoms and psychological distress.


Sometimes panic attacks may be a listed side effect of medications such as Ritalin (methylphenidate). It may be a temporary side effect only occurring when a patient first starts a medication, or could continue occurring even after the patient is accustomed to the drug, which likely would warrant a medication change in either dosage, or type of drug.

Physiological explanationEdit

The various symptoms of a panic attack can be understood as follows. First, there is frequently (but not always) the sudden onset of fear with little provoking stimulus. This leads to a release of adrenaline (epinephrine) which brings about the so-called fight-or-flight response wherein the person's body prepares for strenuous physical activity. This leads to an increased heart rate (tachycardia), rapid breathing (hyperventilation), and sweating (which increases grip and aids heat loss). Because strenuous activity rarely ensues, the hyperventilation leads to a drop in carbon dioxide levels in the lungs and then in the blood. This leads to shifts in blood pH which in turn can lead to many other symptoms, such as tingling or numbness, dizziness, burning and lightheadedness. It is also possible for the person experiencing such an attack to feel as though they are unable to catch their breath, and they begin to take deeper breaths, which also acts to decrease carbon dioxide levels in the blood.




  • Loss of the ability to react logically to stimuli
  • Loss of cognitive ability in general
  • Racing thoughts (often based on fear)
  • Loud internal dialogue
  • Feeling of impending doom
  • Feeling of "going crazy"


  • Fear that the panic is a symptom of a serious illness
  • Fear of losing control
  • Fear of death
  • Fear of going crazy
  • Flashbacks to earlier panic trigger





Main article: Agoraphobia



AgoraphobiaIt is important to note that agoraphobia is by no means a hopeless situation. Successful treatment is possible with the right combination of therapy and medication.

Panic disorderEdit

Main article: Panic Disorder



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Benzodiazepines like diazepam, lorazepam, alprazolam or clonazepam can be prescribed to be taken at the onset of the panic attack. Sometimes, the psychological knowledge of knowing that such medication is close at hand may be enough to prevent the panic attack. However, this form of treatment may be considered unfavorable by some doctors, because of the potential for abuse and dependency. Benzodiazepines do not treat the cause of the panic attacks. As such, some doctors may prefer to prescribe an antidepressant, particularly an SSRI (such as paroxetine or sertraline), which after an initial titration period may be effective at reducing anxiety. NaSSAs such as mirtazapine have also been found effective, particularly with individuals whose anxiety and panic causes insomnia. Individuals can also treat themselves during panic attacks by breathing into a paper bag (to decrease effects of hyperventilation), doing diaphragmatic breathing applying ice to the face or massaging the body to help stop the physiological reactions. Panic attacks are completely treatable and can be overcome with the correct combination of medication and therapy.

One particularly helpful and effective form of therapy is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Techniques used may include those based upon the concept that intentional exposure to the symptoms will help decrease the sufferer's fear of panic attacks (Symptom Induction). Symptom induction is in essence a form of systematic desensitization. That is, it intends to desensitize the afflicted from the symptoms of panic attacks. The therapist and patient discuss the nature of their attacks, and the symptoms which they fear most. The CBT typically consists of several sessions in which these symptoms are intentionally induced until the patient is less fearful. Inductions generally occur for one minute and may include: intentional hyperventilation, spinning in a chair, straw breathing, breath holding, head lifting, or running in place etc. The key to the induction is that the exercises should mimic the most frightening symptoms of a panic attack. Prior to inducing symptoms (hyperventilation, for example), the therapist asks the patient to rate their level of anxiety. Following the exercise, they rate their resulting level of anxiety. This is repeated at least five times until the anxiety rating is low. The patient's worst symptoms are focused on in this fashion, and the symptom induction cycle is repeated for each symptom.


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