June 17, 2020
Panic or anxiety attacks can come about without warning, with symptoms often peaking within 10 minutes. It can be disorienting or frightening to have one, and often, it feels like your heart is pounding quickly as you start to sweat and experience dizziness. Your breath might feel shorter and you might feel an impending sense of doom.
If you've experienced this, you might have just gone through a panic attack. Known also as an anxiety attack, the symptoms can develop abruptly but rarely last more than an hour. Most end within 20 to 30 minutes and can happen anywhere - at the gym, while shopping, or even at home.
Panic attacks are more likely to come about when a person is experiencing extreme stress, like working 16-hour days or undergoing major life changes. They can come from physical, emotional, or financial stress. There might also be roots of anxiety in issues you are having with your family.
For someone undergoing their first panic attack, it can be difficult to recognize what is happening or know what to do. It can be as severe as feeling like you might pass out, not wake up, or even go crazy. But fortunately, they pass. In the event that this happens again, here's how to identify if you're having a panic attack and what you can do next.
It can feel frightening to have a panic attack if you've never experienced one before but remember that they will pass. In the long term, it might be worthwhile to reflect on the environment or circumstances that caused your panic attack and brainstorm ways to adjust or remove your stressor. Activities like journaling, speaking with someone you trust, and exercise, are a few ways to manage your day-to-day. If the panic attacks become frequent, then there's the chance of having panic disorder, which can be alleviated through therapy or antidepressants. At the end of the day, each person will learn to manage the panic in their own way and remember that panic attacks always pass.
Dr. Ho Anh
Chief Medical Officer
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