What are the most common panic attack symptoms?

Panic Attack Symptoms Explained - Please read and understand fully 

First of all, the word 'symptom' is used by doctors to describe the effects of illness... ANXIETY IS NOT AN ILLNESS... it's a behavioral condition. However, anxiety does 

produce some pretty scary SENSATIONS.

Yes, I said SENSATIONS because all of the feelings and thoughts you experience 

are just that! They are the physical manifestations of high anxiety

and NOTHING MORE!

STOP - THIS IS IMPORTANT

True FEAR can only be present when there is something PRESENT to be scared of.

If you have panic attack symptoms when there is nothing present to be scared of... you are experiencing INAPPROPRIATE ANXIETY... the sensations of FEAR, BUT, NOT true fear!

Even any weird or anxious thoughts you experience are ALL the product of the anxiety response which creates 'what if' thoughts... thoughts designed to make you make sensible decisions quickly when REAL fear is present.

But when no REAL fear is present, the thoughts work on presenting you with 'worst case scenarios' and some can be pretty weird and disturbing; these might include aggressive thoughts or sexual thoughts... thoughts about things you KNOW you'd never actually carry out. Disturbing but harmless thoughts and a recognized and common panic attacks symptom.

Does this make sense?

I tell you this because I need you to understand that all the panic attacks symptoms, feelings, thoughts and sensations you experience are products of the anxious nerve signals your brain produces, not the signs of illness.. not physical illness, not mental illness!

Symptoms of panic attacks are unpleasant to say the least, BUT they are completely normal and harmless (no matter how inappropriate).

For ease, I will, however, carry on using the word symptom, to describe these sensations.

Not everyone experiences the same panic attack symptoms; we are all different biologically and therefore react differently to each other as a response to the same or similar stimuli.

The following list identifies the most common panic attack symptoms. Experiencing four or less of these panic attack symptoms identifies what is called a limited symptom attack.

Common Panic Attack Symptoms

• Rapid heart beat, pounding heart or palpitations
• Sweating
• Shaking visibly or inside
• Choking sensations or lump in throat (Globus Hystericus)
• Smothering or shortness of breath sensations
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Nausea, bloating, indigestion or abdominal discomfort
• Dizziness or unsteadiness
• Feeling light-headed
• Derealization (feeling unreal or dreamy)
• Depersonalization (feeling outside yourself or like you don't exist)
• Fear of losing control or going crazy
• Paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensations) in face, extremities or body
• Chills or hot flushes
• Skin losing color
• Blushing or skin blotches
• Urgently needing to urinate or defecate
• Inappropriate/Disturbed thoughts
• Muscle pain, especially in neck or shoulders


...and possibly many more!


Experiencing different or more panic attack symptoms than are listed above does not mean that your condition is worse or different, or that you are suffering from another un-diagnosed condition. Diagnosis of anxiety disorders is very accurate, so chances are you ARE suffering from panic attacks symptoms.


To find out more, or gain reassurance about any of your panic attack symptoms please contact us.