A panic attack is a sudden onset of intense anxiety accompanied by physical symptoms such as a racing heart, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, and a feeling of unreality. This unpleasant state can last from 5 to 60 minutes, but is not harmful to your health. However, if panic attacks are recurring and make life difficult, it is important to seek help.
Experts from the All-Ukrainian mental health program “How are you?” explained that a panic attack can occur for no apparent reason, when the body mistakenly goes into “fight or flight” mode, even when there is no real threat. This often happens due to stress, overwork, emotional burnout, or other factors.
Symptoms of a panic attack include:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Shortness of breath and rapid breathing
- Tremors, numbness of the hands and feet
- Nausea, stomach discomfort
- Dizziness and excessive sensitivity to light
To reduce the symptoms of a panic attack, you can use the “5–4–3–2–1” technique, which consists of focusing on the surrounding things and sensations. However, if the attacks are repeated and significantly affect your life, you should consult a specialist.
The support of a doctor will help identify the causes and develop a strategy to deal with panic attacks, which can become a serious problem if left untreated.
