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Panic attacks are sudden, intense episodes of fear or discomfort that typically peak within minutes. These attacks can include physical symptoms such as a racing heart, sweating, trembling, and dizziness. They may occur unexpectedly or be triggered by specific situations. Panic attacks are often associated with panic disorder or other anxiety disorders, and treatment for panic attacks can help individuals manage these episodes and reduce their impact on daily life. With proper care, including therapy and coping strategies, many people find relief and regain control over their emotions and physical responses.
Panic attack symptoms typically peak within minutes and can be very distressing. They can occur in response to a specific trigger or seemingly out of the blue.
Breathlessness or a feeling of choking
Increased heart rate (i.e., pounding heart)
Tingling sensations in arms and legs
Tense muscles
Sweating
Stomach upset and/or diarrhoea
Dizziness
Chest pain
Fear of losing control or dying
Up to 40% of Australians will
experience a panic attack at
some point in their life
About 5% of Australians
experience panic disorder
in their lifetime
Around 3-4% experience
panic attacks in any 12-
month period
Panic disorder can develop
at any age, but it’s rare in
older people and children
Panic disorder is a pretty common anxiety issue where people have these things called panic attacks. These attacks are like intense bursts of fear or discomfort that come on suddenly and can make you feel like your heart is racing, you’re sweating buckets, shaking like a leaf, or even like you’re choking. They can also give you chest pain, make you feel dizzy, or like things aren’t real. Sometimes there’s no obvious reason for them, and they can happen out of the blue, which can be really scary.
One important fact about about panic disorder is that these attacks can happen unexpectedly, and they can be really disruptive to your life. They can happen frequently or just every now and then, but they’re always intense and can leave you feeling like you’re not in control.
It’s not just about the panic attacks though; panic disorder can also mess with your life in other ways. It can make you worry a lot about having more attacks, or it might change the way you do things to avoid situations that you think might trigger an attack.
The good news is that treatment for panic attacks is available. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective treatments for panic attacks. There are also medications that can help manage the symptoms and reduce the number of attacks.
It’s important to get the right diagnosis though, as there are other things that can cause similar symptoms. Once you know what’s going on, you can work with your healthcare team to find the best way to manage your panic disorder and get back to living your life without the constant worry of when the next attack might strike.
*Source: Panic Disorder – National Library of Medicine
Take slow, deep breaths to calm down. Inhale through your nose, exhale through your mouth, and count to four with each breath to ease the panic.
Use your senses to stay grounded and calm. Name five things you can see, four you can touch, three you can hear, two you can smell, and one you can taste.
Our Psychologists, highly qualified with Masters or Doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology, provide treatment for Panic Attacks. They use Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), the gold standard for many psychological issues, along with other evidence-based treatments like Mindfulness and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).