Panic Attacks & Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is a diagnosis given to people who experience recurrent unexpected panic attacks. Learn about the condition and how to manage panic attacks here.

If you’ve ever had a panic attack, you’ll know it can be both a terrifying experience and exhausting experience. Panic disorder is a diagnosis given to people who experience recurrent unexpected panic attacks—that is, the attack appears to occur out of the blue. Panic attack symptoms include sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, feelings of choking, chest pain, and a fear of dying.

A panic attack is an abrupt surge of intense fear or discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes, and during which time a variety of psychological and physical symptoms occur. These symptoms include rapid heart rate, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, hot flashes, and lightheadedness—as well as a sense of impending doom, chills, nausea, abdominal pain, chest pain, headache, and numbness or tingling.

Panic disorder is a diagnosis given to people who experience recurrent unexpected panic attacks— that is, the attack seems to appear from nowhere. The term recurrent refers to the fact that the individual has had more than one unexpected panic attack. In contrast, expected panic attacks occur when there is an obvious cue or trigger, such as a specific phobia or generalized anxiety disorder. In the US, roughly 50% of people with panic disorder experience both unexpected and expected panic attacks.

Panic attacks cause a variety of distressing symptoms that can be terrifying for the individual experiencing the attack. Some people mistake panic attacks for heart attacks and many believe that they are dying. Others feel a mixture of self-doubt or impending doom. Some can also find the episodes extremely embarrassing and refrain from telling their friends, family, or a mental health professional.

Based on panic disorder DSM-5 criteria, the symptoms of panic attacks are:

Physical

• Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate
• Sweating
• Trembling or shaking
• Shortness of breath
• Feelings of choking
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Feeling dizzy, unsteady, light-headed, or faint
• Chills or heat sensations
• Numbing or tingling sensations (commonly referred to as “pins and needles”)

Psychological

• Fear of losing control or “going crazy”
• Fear of dying
• A sense of being detached from yourself or your surroundings, or observing yourself from outside your body

To receive a diagnosis of panic disorder. the panic attacks must be unexpected and during the attack. four or more of the above symptoms must occur.

For panic attacks that are expected, meaning they might not be expected by the individual but are expected in relation to any phobia, anxiety, or other mental health disorder, four or more symptoms must also occur.

Although the duration varies between individuals. typically, panic attacks reach their peak within 10 minutes or less and then symptoms begin to subside. Panic attacks rarely last for more than an hour, with most lasting for around 20 to 30 minutes.

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According to a study published in Psychology Medicine¹, people who suffer from panic attacks and panic disorder may be at higher risk of heart attack and heart disease later in life. While the link between panic disorder and heart disease remains controversial. the study found that compared to individuals without panic disorder, sufferers were found to have up to a 36% higher risk of heart attack and up to 47% higher risk of heart disease. If you suffer from panic attacks, seek attention for any chest pain symptoms in order to rule out any issues with heart health.

While panic attacks cause a variety of physical issues and many people reporting feeling like they are about to die when experiencing one, you cannot die from a panic attack.

If you are prone to experiencing negative emotions and are sensitive to anxiety you may be at risk for the onset of panic attacks and panic disorder. Childhood experience of sexual or physical abuse, smoking, and interpersonal stressors in the months before the first panic are also risk factors.

Furthermore, it is believed that genetics play a role in susceptibility to panic disorder. although the exact genes, gene products, or functions that are implicated are not known. Individuals with a parent or parents diagnosed with anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder are also thought to be at a higher risk of developing panic disorder.