I know this may be a dumb question, but i’ve always wondered what the biological reason for panic attacks was. Is it because our brains are tricked into going into fight or flight modes? If that’s the case then wouldn’t you just feel adrenaline? And I know i’m not speaking for everyone, but for myself at least- panic attacks do not feel like bursts of adrenaline. They feel like i’m having a heart attack and I can’t shake the scary feeling of impending doom :/
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A panic attack is characterized by a sudden onset of intense fear or discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes and includes at least four of the following symptoms: heart palpitations, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, feelings of choking, chest pain or discomfort, nausea or abdominal pain, feeling dizzy or lightheaded and fear of losing control or “going crazy.”
Panic attacks can happen without any prior warning sign and can be triggered by anything that causes anxiety. Once someone experiences a panic attack, they may start to worry about having another one which can lead to avoidance behaviors and further anxiety. It’s not uncommon for people who suffer from panic disorder to also experience agoraphobia (a fear of public places) as well as other phobias. Panic disorder affects approximately 3% of adults in the United States every year. Women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with panic disorder.
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