Panic attacks are sudden, intense surges of fear, panic, or anxiety. They are overwhelming, and they have physical as well as emotional symptoms. If you have a panic attack, you might find you have difficulty breathing, you sweat profusely and tremble, and you may feel your heart pounding.

Some people will also experience chest pain and a feeling of detachment from reality or themselves during a panic attack, so they may think they’re having a heart attack. Others have reported feeling like they are having a stroke.

➖Causes: Panic attacks can happenTrusted Source for various reasons, and sometimes they happen for no apparent reason.
You’re more likely to experience them if you:
▪️have panic disorder.
▪️have another anxiety disorder.
▪️use certain substances or have a substance use disorder.
▪️use certain medications.
▪️have a medical condition, such as an overactive thyroid.
▪️have a condition that involves psychosis.

A panic attack often happens when you’re exposed to a trigger, but triggers vary widely between people. In some cases, there may be no clear trigger. However, some people find that the following can trigger an attack:
▪️social events.
▪️public speaking.
▪️conflict.
▪️situations that remind you of past.
▪️current stress in your life.

➖Symptoms: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) defines a panic attack as “an abrupt surge of intense fear or discomfort.” They tend to start without warning, and symptoms reach a peak within minutes.

If you have a panic attack, here are some of the symptoms you might experience:

▪️a pounding heart, palpitations, or rapid heart rate
sweating.
▪️shaking or trembling.
▪️difficulty breathing or feeling as if you are choking or being smothered.
▪️chest pain or discomfort.
▪️nausea or stomach upset.
▪️feeling dizzy, light-headed, or faint.
▪️feeling unsteady.
▪️chills or feeling hot.
▪️numbness or tingling.
▪️feelings as if things are unreal.
▪️feeling detached from yourself.
▪️fear of losing control or “going crazy.”
▪️fear of dying.