Panic attacks – are sudden, intense episodes of anxiety, fear, or panic that are brief in duration and accompanied by physical and/or cognitive symptoms.
Key signs of panic attacks:
– Sudden anxiety or fear
– Physical symptoms such as rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, dizziness, sweating, tingling or burning sensations in the chest, abdominal discomfort, trembling, or increased sweating
– Feeling of suffocation or difficulty breathing
– Nausea or abdominal pain
– Dizziness, and in severe cases, loss of consciousness
– Confusion of thoughts
– Fear of going insane or fear of dying.
The duration of a panic attack usually lasts up to 10 minutes but can vary from a few seconds to a longer duration.
Factors that can trigger panic attacks include:
– Stress (acute or chronic)
– Fatigue and exhaustion
– Intense physical exertion
– Excessive consumption of caffeine or other nervous system stimulants
– Illness (as a manifestation of post-COVID syndrome, pheochromocytoma)
– Being in an environment with low oxygen levels (subway, crowded places)
People experiencing panic attacks may fear that something terrible will happen to them as a result of the attack and often avoid situations they perceive as triggering. Panic attacks can be symptoms of various mental disorders, such as panic disorder, agoraphobia, post-traumatic stress disorder, depressive disorder, and more.
Treatment may include psychotherapy or medications and is usually aimed at reducing the frequency and intensity of panic attacks and their impact on the individual.
One of the most effective approaches to treating panic attacks is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).