Panic attacks: signs, causes, and treatment

Caitlin Knudsen, RN, BSN - Contributor Avatar

Written by Danielle Oaks 

Caitlin Knudsen, RN, BSN - Contributor Avatar

Written by Danielle Oaks 

last updated: Jul 29, 2021

3 min read

A panic attack feels like it comes out of nowhere. It’s sudden, unexpected, and fills you with an intense feeling of fear––sometimes without a clear trigger.

Panic attacks are paired with physical symptoms like heart palpitations, sweating, chills, lightheadedness, trouble breathing, and nausea (Cackovic, 2020). Some people describe feeling like they're having a heart attack or like they’re going to die. 

If you’ve ever had a panic attack, know that you’re not alone. Researchers estimate that one third of all people experience a panic attack at least once in their lifetime (Kessler, 2006).

Ro

Improve and support your health from the comfort of home

What are the signs of a panic attack? 

A panic attack is usually described as a sudden, intense fear not necessarily related to any particular trigger. Symptoms can last from a few minutes to an hour and can include: 

  • Pounding or rapid heart rate

  • Sweating or feeling hot

  • Shaking or chills

  • Numbness

  • Dizziness or lightheadedness

  • Nausea or upset stomach

  • Chest pain

  • Feeling like you can’t breathe

  • Feeling like you’re being choked or smothered

  • Feeling detached from yourself or reality 

  • Fear of losing control, “going crazy,” or dying

What causes a panic attack?

The exact cause of panic attacks is still up for debate, but researchers have two theories.

One is some people have a buildup of serotonin, a chemical in the brain that regulates mood. This can lead the nervous system to perceive a threat where there is none. Another theory posits that low levels of chemicals called endorphins can trigger feelings that lead to panic attacks (Cackovic, 2020; Zagon, 2017).

Panic attacks are more common in people with depression. Females are also more likely than males to have panic disorder. Genetics seems to play a role as well. People with a close family member with panic disorder have a 40% chance of developing the condition (Cackovic, 2020). 

What is panic disorder?

Some people have one or two panic attacks in their life, while others experience recurrent ones. Recurrent panic attacks, worries over having more panic attacks, and avoiding situations because of the risk of having one are all features of panic disorder (Chand, 2021). 

As with many mental health conditions, there are no lab tests to diagnose panic disorder. To diagnose it, a mental health professional will ask you a series of questions about your experiences with panic attacks, how frequently you have them, and whether they affect your ability to function on a daily basis.

They will likely perform a physical examination and perform tests to rule out any other underlying condition that might contribute. 

Coping with panic attacks

Since the symptoms of a panic attack often feel like a heart attack, visits to the emergency room are common. In fact, one of every 100 emergency room visits in the United States is someone in the throes of a panic attack.  

If you’ve had panic attacks before and can identify what’s happening in the middle of one, here are some tips and tricks you can use to stop attacks at home. 

  1. Deep breathing. Regulating your breathing can be an effective way to slow your heart rate, catch your breath, and stop an attack. Slow, deep breaths can stimulate your parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for keeping your body relaxed (as opposed to the flight-or-fight response that's in high gear during a panic attack). It can lower blood pressure, slow your heart rate, and help stop an attack. 

  2. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Treatment for panic disorder can include psychotherapy and medication. A specific type of therapy known as CBT is often recommended, as well as coping tools like deep breathing techniques. 

  3. Antidepressants. Medication, specifically SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), are commonly prescribed for panic disorder. These drugs take as long as six weeks to start working efficiently––for some people, this means anxiety gets worse before it gets better (Quagliato, 2018). 

  4. Benzodiazepines. Sometimes an additional medication is added at the start of treatment until the other medication starts working (Cackovic, 2020). Benzodiazepines (like Xanax) work quickly to bring about feelings of calm and relax your muscles. However, these aren't for long-term use since they can be habit-forming and the effects dissipate with continued use (Chand, 2021). 

Panic attacks may be an occasional occurrence or a significant disruption in your life––even if they don’t happen often. If you’re experiencing panic attacks and are looking for ways to manage them, speak with a  healthcare provider about your symptoms. 

DISCLAIMER

If you have any medical questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider. The articles on Health Guide are underpinned by peer-reviewed research and information drawn from medical societies and governmental agencies. However, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

  • Balaram, K., Marwaha, R. (2021). Agoraphobia. [Updated Mar 1, 2021]. In:  StatPearls  [Internet]. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554387/

  • Bandelow, B., Michaelis, S., & Wedekind, D. (2017). Treatment of anxiety disorders. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience , 19 (2), 93–107. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2/bbandelow

  • Cackovic, C., Nazir, S., Marwaha, R. (2020). Panic disorder. [Updated Jul 10, 2021]. In:  StatPearls  [Internet]. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430973/

  • Chand, S. P., Marwaha, R. (2021). Anxiety. [Updated Jul 26, 2021]. In:  StatPearls  [Internet]. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470361/

  • Kessler, R. C., Chiu, W. T., Demler, O., Merikangas, K. R., & Walters, E. E. (2005). Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of 12-month DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Archives of General Psychiatry , 62 (6), 617–627. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.62.6.617. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15939839/

  • Quagliato, L. A., Freire, R. C., & Nardi, A. E. (2018). Risks and benefits of medications for panic disorder: a comparison of SSRIs and benzodiazepines. Expert Opinion on Drug Safety , 17 (3), 315–324. doi: 10.1080/14740338.2018.1429403. Retrieved from  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29357714/

  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2016). Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 Changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519704/table/ch3.t10/

  • Zagon, I.S., McLaughlin, P.J. (2017). Endogenous opioids in the etiology and treatment of multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis: Perspectives in Treatment and Pathogenesis . Chapter 8. doi: 10.15586/codon.multiplesclerosis.2017.ch8. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470156/


How we reviewed this article

Every article on Health Guide goes through rigorous fact-checking by our team of medical reviewers. Our reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the writer.

Current version

July 29, 2021

Written by

Danielle Oaks

Fact checked by

Caitlin Knudsen, RN, BSN


About the medical reviewer