Am I Having a Panic Attack? (Understanding What’s Happening)

Your chest gets tight, you can’t get enough air and you feel dizzy as you heart starts to race. You struggle to think clearly and just want to escape from this uncomfortable situation. You may feel out of control, scared and confused. You might wonder, is there something seriously wrong with me, or am I having a panic attack?

Many people who experience a panic attack for the first time worry that something serious is happening to their body. It feels so overwhelming and it feels that there must be something medical happening. You might call out an ambulance or paramedics because you think you are having a heart attack.

The symptoms of a panic attack can appear suddenly and feel extremely intense. Your heart may start racing, breathing may feel difficult, and you might feel dizzy, shaky or overwhelmed. Even more problematic, you can’t think clearly and no amount of reason or logic seems to make any difference.

Because these sensations are so physical, it’s very common for people to wonder whether they might be having a medical emergency rather than a panic attack.

Understanding what happens during panic can help make the experience far less frightening and hep guide you towards the right support.

 

What Is a Panic Attack?

A panic attack is a sudden surge of anxiety that activates the body’s fight-or-flight response very quickly.

This response is designed to protect us from danger. When the brain senses a threat, it releases stress hormones such as adrenaline, preparing the body to react.

Panic attacks tend to happen quickly as  your mind perceives and immediate threat that you need to respond to with energy, strength and speed.

Even though this response is helpful when facing real danger, anxiety can sometimes trigger the same reaction even when no immediate threat exists. There may be a build up of anxiety that reaches a psychological ‘tipping point’ into panic. The situation, even though logically safe, is tagged by your brain as a threat and danger. Anytime you encounter a similar situation, your brain will activate the fight of flight response and you experience a panic attack.

And because your mind works on patterns, the panic can spread into other similar situations. This is how panic attacks can increase and start to impact upon more of your life. You can feel confused and uncertain and you start to avoid more things just in case you have a panic attack.

During a panic attack, people often experience several physical sensations at once.

These can include:

• a racing or pounding heart
• shortness of breath
• dizziness or light-headedness
• shaking or trembling
• tightness in the chest
• sweating or feeling hot
• a strong sense of fear or dread

Because these sensations happen suddenly, they can feel overwhelming.

You can read more about why anxiety makes your heart race and how the body’s stress response creates these sensations.

 

Why Panic Attacks Feel So Frightening

Panic attacks can feel particularly alarming because the body reacts very quickly.

The sudden surge of adrenaline can make sensations feel powerful and difficult to control. The mind then tries to interpret what is happening, often jumping to the worst-case explanation.

Some people worry they might faint, lose control, or even die. Other people worry about embarrassing themselves and being judged by others if they panic in front of them.

You may start to worry before situations – what if you have a panic attack? And after an attack, you may dwell and ruminate about it all. It feeds the anxiety – you worry and dread what might happen, you go into the situation and have a panic attack, and then you dwell and think negatively afterwards. This then feeds into more anxiety and dread about what might happen.

Experiences such as a fear of dying during anxiety or panic are surprisingly common and are closely linked to the body’s threat response.

 

Panic Attacks and Physical Anxiety Symptoms

Many panic symptoms are also part of the body’s wider physical anxiety response.

For example, breathing may become shallow, which can create a feeling of shortness of breath during anxiety. The heart may beat faster, and the body may feel tense or shaky.

Understanding how anxiety affects the body can help these sensations feel less alarming. That interrupts the additional anxiety from focusing upon the sensations and worrying about something being medically wrong with you.

If you’re experiencing symptoms like breathlessness, dizziness or a racing heart, you may find it helpful to explore my anxiety hub for Ely, which explains how anxiety can affect both the mind and body.

 

How Long Do Panic Attacks Last?

Although panic attacks feel intense, they usually pass relatively quickly.

Most panic attacks peak within a few minutes and gradually settle as the body’s adrenaline levels reduce. It’s a short term, high energy and intensity state.

The body cannot stay in a full fight-or-flight state for long, which is why the symptoms eventually begin to ease.

Some people continue to feel unsettled after a panic attack and may take some time to feel back to their usual self.

Although panic attacks themselves are brief, the anxiety about having another panic attack, and the possibility of feeling that bad again, can leave you feeling generally anxious, tense and on edge.

 

When Panic Attacks Become More Frequent

Many people experience a panic attack at some point in their lives.

However, if panic attacks begin happening regularly, it may help to recognise some of the signs your anxiety is getting worse.

You may also find it helpful to understand when you should seek help for anxiety if these experiences start affecting everyday life.

Your brain has inadvertently learnt to tag certain things, that are actually safe, as dangers. It is very possible to change that pattern so that you feel calmer, more in control, and have more freedom to do the things you want to do.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Panic Attacks

How do I know if I’m having a panic attack?

Panic attacks usually involve a sudden surge of intense anxiety along with physical symptoms such as a racing heart, dizziness, breathlessness or shaking.

Can a panic attack feel like a heart attack?

Yes. Because panic attacks create strong physical sensations such as chest tightness and a rapid heartbeat, many people initially worry they may be having a heart attack or that something is medically wrong.

Are panic attacks dangerous?

Although panic attacks can feel extremely frightening, they are not dangerous. They are caused by the body’s natural stress response. The feelings, although intense and tiring, do settle back down again.

Why do panic attacks happen suddenly?

Panic attacks occur when the brain’s threat response becomes activated quickly, releasing adrenaline and creating physical symptoms for you to urgent action to protect yourself..

 

Finding Support

Panic attacks can feel frightening, especially when they happen unexpectedly.

However, they are a common experience during anxiety and do not mean that something is seriously wrong with your body.

Many people find that once they understand how panic works, the symptoms begin to feel much less alarming. You can then learn how to calm the thoughts and feelings that contribute to ongoing anxiety and panic.

If anxiety or panic attacks have been affecting how you feel day-to-day, a free consultation is available to talk things through and explore what support might help.

To your health and happiness,

Dan Regan

Anxiety Therapy and Hypnotherapy in Ely and Newmarket

 

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