A panic attack, is an episode of intense panic or fear.
Panic attacks often occur suddenly with no warning.
There is sometimes an obvious trigger for the attack, such as the fear of public speaking or a social event or problems at work, but in other cases, the attacks just seem to come out of no where.
A panic attack usually peaks within 10 minutes, and rarely lasts more than 30 minutes.
To someone who has never suffered through one, this may not seem very long.
But for the person experiencing it, it seems like an eternity.
The terror can be so severe that you can sometimes feel like you might even die.
Panic attacks are often confused with having a heart attack.
Symptoms common to both include: a rush of overwhelming panic, the feeling of losing control, chest pain, dizziness, heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, feeling of choking, hyperventilation, chills, trembling, nausea, hot flashes, and stomach ache.
If you suffer from repeated panic attacks, and are also afraid of having an attack again in public, you may suffer from panic disorder.
There is no obvious known cause for panic disorder but there are various treatment methods available.
This includes exposure therapy where you are exposed to the physical panic feelings whilst monitored in a controlled environment.
This type of therapy is to give you the opportunity to discover different ways of coping with panic attacks.
It is possible to overcome anxiety, but it takes a lot of hard work and effort on the part of the individual.
It can be done and if you have the willpower then you will reduce your levels of panic and anxiety.