Panic attack is a mental disorder that occurs suddenly and unexpectedly and creates intense anxiety, fear and panic in the person. The feeling of fear about the recurrence of the attack as well as the attack itself creates severe anxiety.

What is Panic Attack?

In its simplest term, a panic attack is an anxiety disorder in which you are suddenly and regularly affected by a feeling of panic or fear.

What Causes a Panic Attack?

As with many other mental disorders, the exact cause of a panic attack is unknown. However, it is thought that the condition is probably related to factors such as traumatic, very stressful period in life such as bereavement.

How Common Are Panic Attacks?

The incidence of panic attack is around 2-3%. The incidence in women is higher than in men. Panic attack symptoms can be observed not only in adults, but also in children, although rarely.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Panic Attack?

The signs and symptoms of a panic attack are as follows:

• Hot flashes
• Dizziness
• Feeling unconscious
• Chill
• Choking feeling
• A sense of dread or fear of dying
• General Tremor
• Feeling disconnected from the body
• Sudden need for toilet
• Chest pain
• Fast heartbeat
• Tingling in fingers
• Ringing in the ears
• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Numbness or pins and needles

How Are Panic Attacks Diagnosed?

Panic attack can only be made by a psychologist who is an expert in his field. First of all, the patient's medical history is taken and necessary physical examinations are performed.

There is no direct laboratory test that can diagnose a panic attack. However, physicians request some tests to find out whether the attacks are caused by another underlying disease or a panic attack. According to the test results, other diseases are eliminated and diagnosed.

What are the Risk Factors of Panic Attack?

The risk factors of panic attack are as follows:

• Smoking or excessive caffeine intake
• Family history of panic disorder
• Major life stress, such as the death or serious illness of a loved one
• A traumatic event, such as sexual assault or a serious accident
• History of physical or sexual abuse in childhood
• Big changes in your life like divorce or the addition of a baby

What Are the Complications of Panic Attacks?

Complications of panic attack are as follows:

• The development of certain phobias, such as the fear of driving or leaving the house
• Alcohol or other substance abuse
• Frequent medical care for health problems and other medical conditions
• Depression, anxiety disorders and other psychiatric disorders
• avoiding social situations
• Increased risk of suicide or suicidal thoughts

How is Panic Attack Treatment?

Panic attacks are treatable and full recovery is possible. For this, it is very important to seek medical help as early as possible.

The main treatment consists of psychotherapy and medication. If the doctor and the patient think that it will benefit, prescription drugs can be applied. Antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and other similar drugs can be given to the patient during this period.

During psychological treatment, a therapist may benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy.

If symptoms do not improve after cognitive behavioral therapy or medication use, the patient is referred by the doctor to a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist.

FAQ

What are the 5 Symptoms of Panic Attack?

The 5 most common symptoms of a panic attack are:

• Palpitations or a marked increase in heart rate
• Sweating
• Shake
• shortness of breath or choking
• Cessation of breathing

What Is the Main Symptom Of A Panic Attack?

Panic attacks are not a single symptom. For this reason, it would be more accurate to talk about the most common symptoms instead of the main symptom.

The most common symptoms of a panic attack are as follows:

• Chest pain
• Shake
• Choking or choking sensation
• Sweating
• Tingling, numbness in fingers or toes
• Difficulty in breathing
• Fear of losing control
• Intense feeling of fear
• Nausea

What Kind of Emotion Is a Panic Attack?

It consists of a sudden feeling of fear and tension.

How Do Doctors Test for Panic Attacks?

There is no specific panic attack test to detect a panic attack. Because the symptoms can be very similar to a heart attack, your doctor will likely start by examining you and ruling out other health problems.