Fear is a normal part of life, we may fear having money problems, losing our jobs, or death, but panic is something totally different. Panic is when you really fear something and the fear feelings escalate to a full blown panic attack. No amount of rational thinking can calm you down and it just keeps getting worse. There are many panic symptoms that it is important to be aware of so that you can better manage your panic attacks.

Panic symptoms
When a panic attack starts you may experience some if not all of the following symptoms: sweating, dizziness, irritability, headaches, rapid heart rate, chest pains, a feeling that you are going crazy, feeling like you are having a heart attack or that you are going to die. During a panic attack it is normal for a person to feel like they are going crazy; they often feel as if nothing will help calm them down and just keep thinking about what it is they are panicking about.

Rational thought does not help at this point because they are already panicking, and it will just keep getting worse before it gets better. Other symptoms include phobias which may cause the panic in the first place.

Phobias
Panic symptoms and panic attacks can often be caused by a phobia; a phobia is an irrational fear of something. A person with a phobia may be afraid to leave their own home, answer the door or telephone, be afraid to drive on a certain road, or even feel like they have to perform some ritual and if they don’t something terrible will happen.

Obsessive compulsive disorder is one of the most common forms of anxiety which often leads to panic attacks. There are many different types of OCD conditions including people that feel the need to wash compulsively or they will die, people that hoard things because they think if they get rid of something they will lose a memory or a part of another person, checkers are people that compulsively check their locks, alarm clocks, etc., and people that count things compulsively. They may feel like they must count their steps, actions, and even sometimes their words in fear of something bad happening.

Obsessive compulsive disorder is one of the number one causes of a panic attack and can bring on panic symptoms rapidly.  During a panic attack people may experience other panic symptoms such as anxiety, a feeling as if they must keep moving, fidgeting, twitching, hot flashes, and moodiness.

Fortunately there are many different ways to quell panic symptoms such as breathing exercises, yoga, meditation, relaxation techniques, medication, therapy, and muscle relaxation. Talking your fears and phobias out with someone may very well help you on your way to experiencing less and less panic attacks and panic symptoms.

Panic attacks are very common in adults and teenagers and can sometimes strike more than four times in a single year. Consulting a doctor about your panic symptoms will help him/her understand what the cause of your panic is and help them recommend some sort of treatment.