How to Tell a Panic Attack Symptom from a Symptom of Something Else

Most people experience a panic attack at some point in their lives. After all, a bout of panic is a natural reaction to a highly stressful situation, triggered by biochemical processes designed to save your life in the face of mortal danger. For most people, this reaction only occurs at appropriately stressful times, but for some, panic is a constant presence in their lives.

If you don’t experience panic attacks frequently, you’ll probably recognize the symptoms if you have one because you’ll be faced with an extremely stressful situation. If you experience them regularly, though, or as part of a panic disorder, you may not recognize the symptoms of panic attack because you may not have external cues, such as a plane crash or violent attack, and the symptoms of a panic attack resemble those of many other medical conditions.

Panic attack symptoms include profuse sweating, dizziness, nausea, rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing, and lightheadedness. Sound like anything you know? Panic attack symptoms are known for their similarity to heart attack symptoms. Indeed, many people who have experienced a panic attack mistakenly believe they have had a heart attack and don’t learn they have had a panic attack until stress tests and MRIs show otherwise. There is a less expensive way to tell the difference though. The most obvious symptom of a panic attack is panic – overwhelming, disorienting anxiety and fear.

The symptoms of a panic attack also mimic the symptoms of long-term medical conditions or negative drug reactions. How can you tell the difference? Most panic attack symptoms only present themselves for about 15 minutes as the body cannot maintain the panic reaction for long periods of time. If your symptoms last for longer than about 15 minutes, you are probably experiencing something else and should seek medical attention immediately. Even if your symptoms subside rapidly enough that it appears likely that you experienced a panic attack, you should still seek medical attention to determine the cause of and appropriate cure for your panic attacks.

One thing to note is that in a child, panic attack symptoms are slightly different than in an adult. The child will still experience all the symptoms of an adrenaline rush and an overwhelming sense of fear, but he or she will probably respond to those physiological conditions differently. For instance, children do not have full abilities to sweat, so you may not notice excessive sweating. The child may freeze up and become unable to speak, or he may cry for no apparent reason. She may urinate on herself. Children are in such a state of developmental flux that it can be hard to tell if the child is experiencing panic or some other condition. Just be aware of the child’s symptoms, and after the attack, try to determine if there was any fear associated with the incident. Regardless, talk to your child’s doctor about any symptoms.

Panic attack symptoms can simply signal a natural reaction to stress or they can signal an anxiety disorder or they can signal any number of underlying medical conditions. It is important to recognize the symptoms and discuss them with a doctor for proper treatment.