Panic attack symptoms are very real and most people find them frightening. If you have ever had a panic attack and were afraid you were losing your mind, having a heart attack or going to die, rest assured you are not alone. Many people have rushed to the hospital emergency room thinking they were in real danger, only to be told they had nothing more than anxiety.

You would think this diagnosis would come as a great relief, but it doesn’t help panic sufferers learn how to cope with an attack and prevent them from happening in the first place. This leaves the sufferer in a constant state of anxiety, waiting for the next attack to occur.

Panic attack symptoms result from a sudden episode of extreme fear and/or feeling of intense dread. Anyone who has suffered from one of these attacks knows they are far more intense than just being nervous in a situation. What’s worse is these attacks can seem to come out of nowhere in common everyday situations where there is no danger.

How to you know if you are really having a panic attack?

It can be confusing because the symptoms of panic can mimic other disorders and can vary from person to person, but there are some very common symptoms that distinguish a panic attack from other disorders.

When anxiety reaches a high enough level, the body releases a surge of stress hormones, adrenalin, that is responsible for the unpleasant physical symptoms of a panic attack. These anxiety attack symptoms can come on very quickly and generally last anywhere from a few minutes to up to an hour.

It can be confusing because the symptoms of anxiety attacks can mimic other disorders and can vary from person to person, but there are some very common symptoms that distinguish a panic attack from other disorders.

Some of the common symptoms of anxiety attack are:

Racing, pounding heartbeat
Shortness of breath or rapid breathing
Nausea,
Excessive sweating
Shaky limbs or trembling
Chest pains
Intense feelings of dread
Fear of going crazy or about to die

Why do I get these Anxiety Attacks?

An extreme form of anxiety is a panic attack disorder. Normal anxiety is the nervous feelings we get in certain situation like asking for a date, taking an exam or giving a speech. Anxiety is a normal response and everyone feels anxious at some time in certain situations. However, anxiety becomes a problem when it becomes chronic or when someone experiences intense anxiety in situations where it doesn’t really make sense to be nervous.

Panic episodes can be frightening because they often hit when you are in situations where there is no real danger present. Many people suffer from these attacks after a very stressful event in their lives, such as the death of a loved one, where the anxiety builds up to the point of anxiety attacks. Others suffer from chronic anxiety for long periods of time and eventually develop anxiety attacks.

Can you stop these unpleasant anxiety symptoms?

Yes! No one enjoys panic attacks and they are not something you should simply live with. Many people try to cope with their anxiety in many ways that are destructive and prevent them from living full, happy lives. Fortunately this does not have to happen. Regardless of why you have anxiety attacks or how long you have suffered, there is a way to stop them. You can finally find lasting relief from panic attacks and stop living in fear of the next attack.

Learn more about how you can learn to quickly stop panic attack symptoms and permanently prevent them from coming back.