Symptoms of Panic Attacks
Panic attacks can affect sufferers in different ways. There is, however, a small group of symptoms which are common to most sufferers.
The symptoms of panic attacks and the degree to which they affect are dependent on a number of factors, the most important of which being age, genetic makeup and fitness level.
Common panic attack symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath or smothering sensations
- Chest pain
- Palpitations and/or racing heart
- Sweating
- Shaking
- Dizziness
- Muscle pains or tingling
- Upset stomach
- Urgency to urinate
- Tinnitus
- Visual disturbances
- Dry mouth
- Sense of impending doom
- Fear of dying or losing consciousness
- Fear of going mad
- Facial numbness
- Generalised anxiety
- Agoraphobia or social phobia
- Low self esteem
- Concerns about health and constant worrying that there is ‘something else’ wrong
Whilst all of the symptoms of panic attacks can be intense, to say the least, they are all perfectly harmless and are simply the extreme manifestation of high anxiety, a response which has developed in all animals as part of their ‘fight or flight’ defence mechanism.
Many people find the physical panic attack symptoms more difficult to manage than the psychological issues, whilst many people find the psychological symptoms more disturbing.
Psychological panic attack symptoms can cause the sufferer to feel very low indeed, however, it must be remembered that constant symptoms and the restrictions which sufferers place on themselves in order to try to control their symptoms can be very frustrating.
Depression is not a symptom of panic attacks, so the sadness, frustration or desperation you are feeling is a perfectly appropriate response to your disorder.
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