It's really surprising to me, as somebody who has grown up with depression and anxiety, to find out that most people have no idea what a panic/anxiety attack is or what it feels like. I just want to shed some light on the subject so those of us who suffer from these attacks don't feel so alone.
Panic Attack definition: a sudden feeling of acute and disabling anxiety.
"Panic attacks are truly terrifying and can happen without warning or reason, causing sudden fear and extreme nervousness for 10 minutes or more. Physical symptoms intensify the attack: sweating, racing heart, rapid pulse, feeling faint or as if one is choking, and-perhaps worst of all-the sense of "going crazy."" (WebMD)
"In many cases, panic attacks strike out of the blue, without any warning. Often, there is no clear reason for the attack. … You may experience one or more panic attacks, yet be otherwise perfectly happy and healthy.
The signs and symptoms of a panic attack develop abruptly and usually reach their peak within 10 minutes. Most panic attacks end within 20 to 30 minutes, and they rarely last more than an hour.
A full-blown panic attack includes a combination of the following signs and symptoms:
Shortness of breath or hyperventilation
Heart palpitations or a racing heart
Feeling unreal or detached from your surroundings
Feeling dizzy, light-headed, or faint
Numbness or tingling sensations
Fear of dying, losing control, or going crazy
Note: Most of the symptoms of a panic attack are physical, and many times these symptoms are so severe that people think they’re having a heart attack.
While a single panic attack may only last a few minutes, the effects of the experience can leave a lasting imprint. If you have panic disorder, the recurrent panic attacks take an emotional toll. The memory of the intense fear and terror that you felt during the attacks can negatively impact your self-confidence and cause serious disruption to your everyday life." (helpguide.org)
"It's not known what causes panic attacks or panic disorder, but these factors may play a role:
Temperament that is more susceptible to stress
Certain changes in the way parts of your brain function
Some research suggests that your body's natural fight-or-flight response to danger is involved in panic attacks. For example, if a grizzly bear came after you, your body would react instinctively. Your heart rate and breathing would speed up as your body prepared itself for a life-threatening situation. Many of the same reactions occur in a panic attack. But it's not known why a panic attack occurs when there's no obvious danger present." (MayoClinic)
This is just a little bit talking about panic attacks, but I hope that this will help people be more understanding of what is actually happening to the people around them, and be able to be more sympathetic in helping their friends through their attacks (✿ﾉ◠‿◠)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧
