At times, panic can be a natural healthy emotion. For example, you are asleep in your bed one night and your fire alarm sounds. You jump out of bed and your heart begins to race and your palms begin to sweat. This is the type of panic that is a survival instinct and is natural and healthy, but when do these symptoms of panic attacks cross the line from just a normal survival instinct to panic attacks or a panic disorder? This article will attempt to answer that question by discussing the symptoms of panic attacks.

To know whether or not you are actually having a panic attack, one must understand what a panic attack is. A panic attack is a sudden and unexpected period of intense fear or discomfort. This will happen without warning. Panic attacks are terrifying. The most terrifying symptoms of panic attacks is that they can happen anywhere and at any time. You could be shopping, walking your dog, or driving to work. You could be feeling fine and then suddenly be overcome with a state of overwhelming fear.

Now that you understand what a panic attacks is, just what are the symptoms of panic attacks? Physical Symptoms of panic attacks include shortness of breath, palapations or accelerated heart rate, chest pain, shaking, sweating, nausea, feeling dizzy or faint, tingling, numbness, and hot or cold flashes. There are other mental symptoms of panic attacks. These include feelings of unreality or being detached from yourself, fear of losing control or going crazy, and fear of dying.

Now that we have discussed the physical and mental symptoms of panic attacks, we will discuss the types of panic attacks. There are three types of panic attacks. Unexpected panic attacks which occur for no clear reason. Situationally bound panic attacks which almost always occur during a certain situation, such as public speaking for instance, or with the anticipation of being exposed to that situation. Situationally predisposed panic attacks are triggered by a specific situation but only occur sometimes. The symptoms of panic attacks are the same for all three types. Most symptoms of panic attacks last around 30 minutes, and they rarely last more than one hour.

In conclusion, panic attacks can be a very frightening situation. The physical symptoms of panic attacks alone are terrifying. Hopefully after reading this short article you have a better understanding of what panic attacks are and the symptoms of panic attacks. I hope this article helps you decide whether or not you are having normal healthy panic or the actual symptoms of panic attacks. I know this can be a scary time, but never give up and remember there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.