Panic Disorder Symptoms Simplified

While it may seem like there’s absolutely nothing simple about panic disorder symptoms, it is important to know how to recognize them. Without that knowledge, many people don’t even realize that what they’re experiencing are panic disorder symptoms.  Instead, many sufferers fear they’re going crazy or even that they’re dying.  Thousands of them end up in emergency rooms believing they’ve had a heart attack. Still others choose to hide their symptoms, fearing that it shows some sort of shameful weakness or mental instability.

Panic Attacks and Heart Attacks

The fact that many panic disorder symptoms mirror those of a heart attack is exactly why there is so much confusion.  Most people who experience their first panic attack have no understanding of what is happening to them.  It makes sense, then that they would look for what seems to be the most obvious answer.  In this case, that answer is often “heart attack.” For example, someone having a panic attack may experience:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Light-headedness
• Nausea

These symptoms can also be indicators of a heart attack.  Because most people are familiar with that type of trauma, they are likely to respond as if they are having a cardiac incident, rather than realizing that what they are actually experiencing are panic disorder symptoms.  Even doctors don’t always recognize the signs right away, although they are becoming more well-versed on the issue as the number of presentations has increased over the years. Unless you know that you are suffering a panic attack, it’s not a bad idea to go ahead and see the doctor when experiencing these symptoms.  He or she will be able to run tests to determine if you have suffered a heart attack, and if so, will help you determine the best course of action.  If it is discovered that you are actually experiencing panic attacks, the doctor can still be helpful in determining treatment options.  This is not a time to be embarrassed, but to learn more about how to avoid and control the problem.

Panic Attacks and "Mental Breaks"

Not everyone suffering from panic attacks will exhibit the same symptoms.  While many people fear for their physical well-being when experiencing an attack, others grow concerned for their mental health.  This is because many panic disorder symptoms seem to affect the mind.

• A disconnect with reality – Many suffering a panic attack feel almost as if they are in a dream-like state where things don’t seem real
• Depersonalization – Some people feel as if they are having an out-of-body experience
• Distressing thoughts – During a panic attack, many people will find they have intrusive thoughts of sadness, concern, or memories from the past

Because these thoughts and sensations can’t seem to be controlled during a panic attack, people often become even more anxious, worrying that they’re losing their minds.  For this reason, some even choose to keep their panic disorder symptoms a secret, hiding the issue from friends, family, and even medical caregivers.

Other Panic Disorder Symptoms

There are numerous other panic disorder symptoms that can contribute to fears of both physical and mental problems.  For example, one person may contribute a lump in the throat to a constricted airway, while another might believe it is an emotional response.  The same is true of a pounding heart.  A few other common panic disorder symptoms:

• Drop in body or skin temperature
• Blushing, flushing, or going pale
• Dizziness
• Need to urinate or defecate
• Indigestion
• Shaking

During a panic attack, a person may experience any combination of the symptoms from these three categories, adding to the confusion over what is truly wrong with him or her.  In addition, experiencing such intense physical and emotional sensations can be exhausting, leaving the sufferer drained, sore, and shaky; not to mention worried, distracted, and fearful of another attack.

Multiple Approaches to Treating Panic Disorder Symptoms

Because panic disorder symptoms affect sufferers both physically and mentally, it makes sense that there are multiple approaches to treatment.  For some, a focus on the emotional and mental aspects causing the reactions is what is most important.  For others, the approach is more about retraining the mind and body to have different physical reactions to those things that trigger a panic attack. Some people with a panic disorder will choose to see a medical doctor to get their symptoms under control.  Others will reach out to a mental health professional.  Still others will attempt to deal with the situation on their own, relying on research and recommendations from others. If panic disorder symptoms start to get so bad that they impede daily life, then it may be necessary to get some help.  For some people, a panic attack is simply a reminder to slow down and remove some stress from their lives.  For others, though, it is just one in a string of attacks that indicate a true disorder.  Finding the right approach to avoiding the problem is important, and being able to recognize panic disorder symptoms is an important first step in creating a plan.

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