Do you suffer from panic attacks? If you have a sudden and acute feeling of fear, dread and anxiety, combined with a rapid pulse and heart rate at seemingly nothing, chances are you have had a panic attack. You are not alone; there are millions of people who have suffered from panic attacks at some time. Whether they are occasional or recurring, the fear and dread that is accompanied with panic attacks can be very frightening and alarming.

The symptoms of panic attacks include:
• Sudden feeling of fear and dread
• Nervousness
• Anxiety
• Rapid heart rate
• Sweating
• Feeling ill
• Feeling disconnected
• Feeling disorientated
• Feeling like you may pass out

If these sound familiar, you have probably experienced a panic attack. When the attack comes on, it can be sudden and very frightening. People often do not understand what is going on, and think that there is something wrong with them. Some even end up going into the hospital because they are afraid of what they are feeling. You don’t have to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder to have a panic attack. Some people have never had a problem with anxiety or other mental illness, and suddenly find themselves having no control over when and where a panic attack occurs.

The symptoms of panic attacks can vary from person to person, and may vary in intensity and duration. For some, it can be a fleeting feeling that does not last for a long time. For others, it can last for minutes and be very intense. You may experience them in different degrees of duration and intensity at different times. When you start to feel a panic attack come on, it can be a very scary situation. You may begin to feel disorientated and feel like the world is spinning and you do not know what is going on around you. Some people feel like they are sick, have chest pains and tightening in the chest and feel as though they may pass out.

Even if you have a panic attack occasionally, the fear of not knowing when and where they may happen can cause you to feel anxious and worry. People who do have symptoms of panic attacks may be able to have treatment to lessen the effects of them, and could possibly be diagnosed with anxiety disorder. If you have experienced panic attacks, you should talk to your doctor and see if there is something that can help you avoid them, and learn techniques to deal with them when they do occur. There are certain treatments that you can try to see if you can find the causes of your panic attacks, and learn tricks to help ease the symptoms of them if they occur and how you can talk yourself through the attacks.