What Is A Panic Attack? Panic Attacks & Panic Disorder

Having a panic attack (sometimes called an anxiety attack) can happen to anyone and may be a frightening experience. Some may even fear having them and develop a mental health condition known as panic disorder. While panic attacks may cause intense feelings of fear and can disrupt and negatively impact a person’s quality of life, they may be a natural response to perceived danger and are generally considered to be treatable. Read on to learn more about what a panic attack feels like, when the experience qualifies as panic disorder, and what treatment options are available when panic attacks happen.

What is a panic attack?

Panic disorder refers to recurring panic attacks along with a serious and sometimes debilitating fear of experiencing another. When panic attacks happen, they typically occur as a sudden episode of intense feelings such as fear or panic. 

What panic attacks feel like: Physical and emotional sensations

Panic attack symptoms can impact the whole body and include feelings of fear, terror, dread, desperation, or impending doom. These experiences might also be accompanied by physical symptoms such as: 

• Pounding, irregular, or racing heartbeat
• Erratic breathing, fast breathing, or shortness of breath 
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Nausea 
• Trembling or shaking 
• Sweating, hot flashes, or chills
• Pressure, pain, or tightness in the chest or chest pain
• Tingling or numbness in various parts of the body
• A choking feeling or a lump in the throat
• A feeling that you are in real danger

An individual may also experience the fear of demonstrating other symptoms that are not associated with panic attacks but may feel possible at the time, such as throwing up, having a heart attack, suffocating due to breathing problems, or losing control of their actions. Other potential feelings may include a detachment from one’s body, the sensation that life seems unreal, or the urge to flee or escape the situation. To put it another way, a panic attack can be thought of like a “false alarm” that triggers the body’s fight or flight response without the presence of a true external threat.

Most panic attacks typically last 10 to 15 minutes before symptoms begin to taper off. However, the after-effects can last up to several hours and often cause the individual to feel drained. While having severe chest pain and related symptoms may seem like you’re experiencing a life-threatening heart attack, panic attacks are not fatal. If left untreated, though, recurring panic attacks or a panic disorder can potentially take a toll on your life physically, mentally, and emotionally. The symptoms may also lead to the development of other mental health issues or disorders or specific phobias, such as agoraphobia, social isolation and depression, or substance use disorder.

Why panic attacks happen

The exact cause of panic attacks and panic disorder is not fully understood. However, they may be linked to a combination of factors, such as: 

• Having a close family relative who experiences panic attacks or has panic disorder 
• A neurotransmitter imbalance in the brain 
• Having other mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety disorders 
• Having experienced a stressful or traumatic event

If you are experiencing trauma or other mental health concerns, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources.

Because the exact cause of panic attacks is unclear, and although it may be connected to family history, there’s currently no way to predict when panic attacks occur. This adds another layer of fear and anxiety for some, potentially causing them to live in a constant state of worry.

Fight or flight response explained

When panic attacks happen, the body’s fight or flight response is activated. This is a natural response to dangerous situations and is meant to help us survive. In the case of panic attacks, the fight or flight response is triggered by perceived danger as opposed to a real threat.

Triggers and risk factors

After a panic attack happens, individuals may avoid places, people, and situations they fear may trigger a panic attack. For example, if someone had a panic attack while driving, they may avoid getting in a car again for fear of having another attack. There is also a link between alcohol use and anxiety and panic attacks, especially for individuals with alcohol use disorder.

Panic attacks versus panic disorder

It may be important to note that panic attacks can sometimes be symptoms of panic disorder, but not always. Some people who have panic attacks develop a fear of having another one, which may lead to panic disorder. 

When is panic disorder diagnosed?

If you experience panic attacks, it may be important to see a professional. A doctor or mental health care provider can evaluate your symptoms and determine whether a diagnosis of panic disorder is warranted. For panic disorder to be diagnosed, the following symptoms and conditions must be present: 

• Unexpected panic attacks that occur frequently
• A period of one month during which you worry about having another panic attack
• Fearing the results of a panic attack, such as having a heart attack or “losing your mind”
• The panic attacks aren’t the result of another identifiable mental health condition like obsessive compulsive disorder or social anxiety, for instance. 

Panic disorder and agoraphobia

Some people with panic disorder also develop a separate disorder called agoraphobia. Agoraphobia refers to the fear of wide, open spaces, but it can also cause someone to fear other situations such as being away from home or being trapped in a crowd. People with agoraphobia may avoid situations like these in an attempt to manage stress or prevent a panic attack.

What is panic disorder?

When panic attacks recur frequently and unexpectedly and interfere with an individual’s daily life or functioning, they could indicate have panic disorder. Another common symptom of panic disorder besides recurring attacks is an intense fear of having another one, since they can come on at any time and cause distressing emotional and physical symptoms. Not everyone who experiences a panic attack will develop this disorder, but it’s estimated to affect around 2.7% of the US population. The fear associated with panic disorder can be enough to cause significant negative impacts on a person’s life, which is why seeking treatment can be important.

How panic attacks and panic disorder are diagnosed

The first step in diagnosing panic attacks or panic disorder is usually to seek medical help and be evaluated by a medical professional. They may conduct a physical health examination to rule out other health or medical conditions that may mimic the symptoms of panic attacks, such as underlying heart or thyroid issues. Seeking an evaluation from a mental health professional is typically the next step after that. They can help you identify whether the symptoms you’ve experienced qualify as a panic attack or something else, and they can recommend treatment options accordingly.

When to seek emergency care

Panic attacks aren’t usually harmful, but there may be instances where it’s advisable to seek emergency medical care. Examples may include: 

• You’ve never had a panic attack before and you’re having distressing symptoms, including chest pain and trouble breathing. 
• You’re having severe chest pain that feels different than previous panic attacks. 
• You’re experiencing thoughts of harming yourself or others. 
• You faint or feel extremely confused or disoriented. 

Even if you don’t seek medical care right away, it could be important to follow up with your mental health care provider or primary care provider after having a panic attack. 

Ruling out serious illness

Some types of serious illness and medical conditions may resemble the symptoms of a panic attack. For this reason, it could be necessary for a medical professional to rule out other causes before panic disorder is officially diagnosed. If you have serious illness fears, know that other possible conditions may include: 

• Asthma
• Thyroid issues
• Heart conditions

How panic attacks and panic disorder are treated

How to treat panic attacks? The recommended treatment for someone who has experienced one panic attack, multiple panic attacks, or has panic disorder can vary depending on the particulars of their situation.

Therapy approaches to panic

Psychotherapy is one common way to treat panic attacks, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. This type of talk therapy focuses on helping the individual learn to recognize and shift flawed or unhelpful thought patterns in order to positively impact feelings and behaviors. A therapist may also offer techniques to help an individual cope with symptoms if they do experience more panic attacks. If symptoms of concurrent disorders such as agoraphobia or substance use issues are also present, the provider can help the individual address these as well. In some cases, medication is also recommended as part of the treatment plan. 

Medication options

You may wonder, “Is panic disorder treated with medication?” In some cases, yes. Medical care in the form of prescription medication is sometimes recommended. Possible medications to treat panic attacks and/or panic disorder may include antidepressant medications as well as anti-anxiety medications. 

How to manage panic attacks in daily life

Some people rely on self-help strategies to manage panic attacks on a daily basis. These self-help techniques can be used alone or alongside other treatments such as therapy and medication. 

Breathing and grounding techniques

Breathing exercises and grounding techniques may help to prevent a panic attack or ease symptoms once the attack occurs. Some effective strategies may include:

• Box breathing or deep breathing techniques
• Progressive muscle relaxation
• Mindfulness exercises

Lifestyle adjustments

Making changes to your regular routine may also help in managing panic attacks or panic disorder. Here are some things you can try:

• Regular physical activity
• Stress management techniques
• A balanced diet
• Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco

Support systems

If you’re experiencing panic symptoms, you don’t have to manage them alone. It could be important to have support systems in place. These could include: 

• Trusted friends and family
• Support groups 
• A therapist or other mental health professional

Getting help for panic attacks and avoidance behaviors through BetterHelp

People who have experienced panic attacks and/or are experiencing symptoms of a panic disorder may have anxiety around entering new or unknown situations that could trigger panic attacks. That’s why some people find virtual treatment methods to treat panic attacks like those available through BetterHelp to be more comfortable. Research suggests that online therapeutic treatments for people with panic disorder—including some individuals who also present with agoraphobia—can be effective in reducing symptoms and helping manage panic attacks.

How online therapy can help

With an online therapy platform like BetterHelp, you can get matched with a licensed therapist who you can meet with virtually from the comfort of your own home, or anywhere else you have an internet connection. An online therapist may provide therapy for stress and anxiety disorders as well as strategies to prevent panic attacks. Whether you prefer in-person or online therapy, know that effective treatment for this condition is available.