Understanding Panic Attacks: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Panic attacks affect 11% of Americans annually with intense physical and emotional symptoms like racing heartbeat and overwhelming fear, but evidence-based therapeutic interventions including cognitive behavioral therapy can effectively treat these episodes and prevent the development of panic disorder.

Your heart races, breathing becomes difficult, and overwhelming fear takes hold — experiencing a panic attack can feel terrifying and isolating. But you're not alone: millions of Americans face these intense episodes each year, and with the right therapeutic support, you can learn to manage and overcome them effectively.

What Is A Panic Attack?

Experiencing a panic attack can happen to anyone and may be a frightening experience. Some individuals may even develop a fear of having them, leading to a mental health condition known as panic disorder. While panic attacks can significantly disrupt one’s quality of life, they are generally considered treatable. Read on to learn more about what a panic attack feels like, when the experience qualifies as panic disorder, and what treatment options are available through telehealth services like ReachLink.

What is a panic attack?

Each year, approximately 11% of Americans experience a panic attack and 2–3% of them will develop panic disorder. For many, panic disorder begins in their late teens or early childhood, usually beginning with an anxiety disorder, and may recur at unpredictable times, seemingly going away for long periods only to return in certain situations.

Panic disorder refers to recurring panic attacks along with a serious and sometimes debilitating fear of experiencing another. They typically occur as a sudden episode of intense fear or panic.

Panic attack symptoms can impact the whole body and include feelings of fear, terror, dread, desperation, or impending doom. These experiences might also be accompanied by physical symptoms such as:

• Pounding, irregular, or racing heartbeat
• Erratic breathing or shortness of breath
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Nausea
• Trembling or shaking
• Sweating, hot flashes, or chills
• Pressure, pain, or tightness in the chest or chest pain
• Tingling or numbness in various parts of the body
• A choking feeling or a lump in the throat
• A feeling that you are in real danger

An individual may also experience the fear of demonstrating other symptoms that are not associated with panic attacks but may feel possible at the time, such as throwing up, having a heart attack, suffocating, or losing control of their actions. Other potential feelings may include a detachment from one’s body, the sensation that life seems unreal, or the urge to flee or escape the situation. To put it another way, a panic attack can be thought of like a “false alarm” that triggers the body’s fight or flight response without the presence of a true external threat.

Most panic attacks typically last 10 to 15 minutes before symptoms begin to taper off. However, the after-effects can last up to several hours and often cause the individual to feel drained. While having severe chest pain and related symptoms may seem like you’re experiencing a life-threatening heart attack, panic attacks are not fatal, despite how it may feel in the middle of one. If left untreated, though, recurring panic attacks or a panic disorder can potentially take a toll on your life physically, mentally, and emotionally. The symptoms may also lead to the development of other mental health issues or disorders or specific phobias, such as agoraphobia, social isolation and depression, or substance use disorder.

What causes unexpected panic attacks?

The exact cause of panic attacks and panic disorder is not fully understood. However, they may be linked to a combination of factors, such as:

• Having experienced a stressful or traumatic event
• Having a close family relative who experiences panic attacks or has panic disorder
• A neurotransmitter imbalance in the brain

Because the exact cause of panic attacks is unclear, and although it may be connected to family history, there’s currently no way to predict when panic attacks occur. This adds another layer of fear and anxiety for some, potentially causing them to live in a constant state of worry and avoid places, people, and situations they fear may trigger a panic attack. For example, if someone had a panic attack while driving, they may avoid getting in a car again for fear of having another attack. There is also a link between alcohol use and anxiety and panic attacks, especially for individuals with alcohol use disorder.

What is panic disorder?

When panic attacks recur frequently and unexpectedly and interfere with an individual’s daily life or functioning, they may have panic disorder. Another common symptom of panic disorder besides recurring attacks is an intense fear of having another one, since they can come on at any time and cause distressing emotional and physical symptoms. Not everyone who experiences a panic attack will develop this disorder, but it’s estimated to affect around 2.7% of the US population. The fear associated with panic disorder can be enough to cause significant negative impacts on a person’s life, which is why seeking treatment can be important.

How panic attacks and panic disorder are diagnosed

The first step in diagnosing panic attacks or panic disorder is usually to seek medical help and be evaluated by a medical professional. They may conduct a physical health examination to rule out other health or medical conditions that may mimic the symptoms of panic attacks, such as underlying heart or thyroid issues. Seeking an evaluation from a mental health professional is typically the next step after that. They can help you identify whether the symptoms you’ve experienced qualify as a panic attack or something else, and they can recommend treatment options accordingly.

How panic attacks and panic disorder are treated

The recommended treatment for someone who has experienced one panic attack, multiple panic attacks, or has panic disorder can vary depending on the particulars of their situation. Psychotherapy is one common form of treatment, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This type of talk therapy focuses on helping the individual learn to recognize and shift flawed or unhelpful thought patterns in order to positively impact feelings and behaviors.

At ReachLink, our licensed therapists offer evidence-based techniques to help individuals cope with symptoms if they do experience more panic attacks. If symptoms of concurrent disorders such as agoraphobia or substance use issues are also present, our providers can help address these as well. In some cases, medication is also recommended as part of the treatment plan, which can be coordinated with your primary healthcare provider.

Telehealth therapy for panic

People who have experienced panic attacks and/or are experiencing symptoms of a panic disorder may have anxiety around entering new or unknown situations that could trigger panic attacks. That’s why many find virtual treatment methods to be more comfortable and accessible. Research suggests that online therapeutic treatments for people with panic disorder—including some individuals who also presented with agoraphobia—can be effective in reducing symptoms.

With ReachLink’s telehealth platform, you can connect with a licensed therapist through secure video sessions from the comfort of your own home, or anywhere else you have an internet connection. Our therapists specialize in treating anxiety disorders and can offer personalized strategies to manage and prevent panic attacks. The convenience and privacy of telehealth services can be particularly beneficial for those whose panic symptoms make it difficult to seek in-person treatment.

Takeaway

Though they’re generally not physically dangerous, unexpected panic attacks and even the fear of experiencing one can be frightening and cause significant disruptions to a person’s daily life. Panic attacks and panic disorder are generally treatable with some form of psychotherapy, sometimes in combination with medication. ReachLink’s comprehensive telehealth approach provides accessible, effective support for individuals dealing with panic attacks, helping them regain control and improve their quality of life.