Symptoms of Panic Attack
Panic attacks can be extremely distressing and have an immense impact on your daily life. Signs include shortness of breath, sweating, trembling, feeling hot or cold, chest pain and nausea (feeling sick).
If you suspect you’re suffering from a panic attack, it is imperative to seek medical assistance immediately. These symptoms could be mistaken for other serious health problems like heart attacks, so visiting your GP for a check-up and physical exam before receiving treatment is highly recommended.
A simple way to reduce some symptoms is taking deep, calm breathing. Do this by concentrating on your breath and relaxing muscles as you inhale and exhale slowly and deeply.
Understanding anxiety, panic disorder and the fight-or-flight response can help you better cope with these feelings. By understanding their causes, you’ll be able to recognize their signs in yourself and others.
You may wish to try diaphragmatic breathing, which involves using the lower portion of your diaphragm to expand your lungs. This may reduce symptoms such as a racing heartbeat and tightness in the chest caused by hyperventilating.
Diaphragmatic breathing is an effective treatment for panic disorders and may be combined with other methods. Your healthcare provider may suggest drugs like sedatives to alleviate your symptoms and promote relaxation.
