What Are Panic Attacks?

The following article gives a brief overview of panic disorders. All of the topics covered below are discussed in depth elsewhere on this website (please see the menu to the right).

Panic attacks are a sudden and frightening period of intense anxiety, which are accompanied by several physiological and psychological symptoms. They are occur when the body secretes a surge of hormones, in particular adrenaline, which cause an inappropriate 'fight or flight' response. The panic attack often has no obvious trigger.

Panic attack symptoms vary between people, but the most commonly reported symptoms are shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pain, nausea, feeling light headed or faint, trembling and feeling detached from surrounding (derealisation). Because the symptoms are usually severe, the person may fear they are dying – first time sufferers often misinterpret the symptoms as being a sign of a heart attack – or that they are having a nervous breakdown. It is not uncommon for people to seek emergency medical treatment, especially if they have never experienced an attack before.

Sufferers typically have their first panic attacks in their twenties and females are more likely to have them than males, but people of both genders and of all ages can be affected (including children). It is difficult to know for certain how many people will experience a panic attack at some stage in their life, as not all sufferers seek medical assistance, but figures are estimated at around ten percent of the population. Once you have had one attack, the odds are that you will have more, with frequency varying greatly from person to person. A person who has experienced multiple panic attacks or one attack followed by a long period of intense anxiety about the possibility of further attacks, is considered to have a panic disorder.

The causes of panic attacks are complex and frequently difficult to identify. While a panic attack may be a reaction to a traumatic life event or period of stress (sometimes happening days or weeks later), it may also occur out of the blue. Some people may have a hereditary predisposition or underlying medical cause such as hypoglycaemia. Stimulants such as caffeine can also be the culprit, or they may occur as a side effect of certain medications, for instance Ritalin. There is even a link between personality type and panic disorders, with introverts and less assertive people more likely to suffer from this problem.

Unfortunately there is no such thing as a complete panic attack cure. If you are suffering from panic attacks it is something you will always be at risk from. However, there is a lot of good advice available to help manage the number of attacks and help prevent further re-occurrences, as well as medications and natural treatments. You may need to try several approaches before finding the treatment which works best for you.