“I thought I was having a heart attack.”

That’s how many people describe their first panic attack.

Your heart may suddenly begin racing. Your chest feels tight. Breathing becomes difficult. You may feel dizzy, shaky, sweaty, nauseated, or disconnected from your surroundings.

And then comes one terrifying thought:

Something is seriously wrong with me.

What Is a Panic Attack?

A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear or discomfort that can produce powerful emotional and physical symptoms.

Symptoms may include:

• Racing or pounding heartbeat.
• Chest discomfort.
• Shortness of breath.
• Trembling or shaking.
• Sweating.
• Dizziness or lightheadedness.
• Nausea.
• Tingling or numbness.
• Feeling detached or unreal.
• Fear of losing control.
• Fear of dying.

Panic attacks can feel frighteningly physical.

Importantly, symptoms such as chest pain and difficulty breathing can also occur with serious medical conditions. If symptoms are new, severe, unusual, or you’re uncertain about their cause, seek appropriate medical evaluation rather than assuming they’re caused by anxiety.

Why Did This Happen?

Sometimes there is an obvious trigger.

Other times, a panic attack seems to appear completely out of nowhere.

After experiencing one, some people begin worrying intensely about having another. They may avoid driving, crowds, stores, social situations, exercise, or places where they fear they couldn’t easily escape.

Eventually, the fear of another panic attack can become almost as disruptive as the panic attack itself.

Can Panic Attacks Be Treated?

Yes.

Treatment may include psychotherapy, learning strategies for responding to panic symptoms, addressing underlying anxiety, lifestyle changes, and medication when appropriate.

Understanding what is happening in your body can itself be empowering.

A panic attack may feel as though you’ve lost control, but effective treatments can help you regain confidence and reduce the hold panic has over your life.

What Can I Do in the Moment?

If you’ve previously been medically evaluated and recognize the symptoms as panic, it may help to slow your breathing, ground yourself in your surroundings, and remind yourself that the sensation will pass.

Rather than fighting every sensation, try noticing it without immediately interpreting it as danger.

And if panic attacks are recurring or changing how you live your life, consider seeking professional support.

You don’t have to organize your life around avoiding the next attack.

A Moment of Serenity

“A frightening moment does not have to become a frightening future.”

Your body may sound an alarm even when danger isn’t present. With understanding, support, and the right tools, you can learn to respond differently when that alarm begins to ring.

---

Continue Your Journey

Previous: Anxiety vs. Everyday Stress: How to Tell the Difference
Next Week: High-Functioning Anxiety: When Everything Looks Fine on the Outside

---

About Health Serenity Psychiatry

Health Serenity Psychiatry provides compassionate, evidence-based psychiatric care for children, adolescents, and adults. We believe healing begins with listening and that care should reflect each person’s unique needs, goals, and experiences.
Have questions or need assistance? Click here to contact us.

Because at Health Serenity Psychiatry, you are heard, your story matters, and your care is personalized.

With compassion,
Halimat Oyabambi, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Founder, Health Serenity Psychiatry