There are four different types of symptoms you can experience from a panic attack. These are physical symptoms, cognitive symptoms, behavioral symptoms and mental symptoms. Often one will cause the other.
Before I share with you these symptoms, it’s important to remember that these symptoms may not mean you’re having a panic attack. In fact, these symptoms could be attributed a variety of different medical conditions. If you are experiencing a number of the symptoms listed below, it’s important to consult with your doctor for a proper diagnosis.
Physical Symptoms
The heart beats faster. Or maybe it palpitates, or beats irregularly. Also, your arm may feel numb, like you’re having a heart attack. Maybe your body just feels weird, or you become dizzy. These are all physical signs of panic attacks.
Other physical signs include nausea, muscle tension or stiffness of the muscles.
Cognitive Symptoms
Your thoughts begin to race and you find it hard to focus on anything. You view everything through a negative light. You have trouble remembering what you were doing or thinking, and you just can’t concentrate.
These are cognitive symptoms which suggest that you may be experiencing a panic attack.
Emotional Symptoms
You find your mood is quickly changing and you are now intensely agitated. Your mind is restless, and you are on edge. Any simple thing might set you off. You’re scared because you feel your are in danger, and you also feel isolated from others around you, because only you are experiencing these feelings.
Behavioral Symptoms
You leave your current environment, so you can escape social interactions or dealing with the things around you. You may even have the desire to drink alcohol or take something to calm you down. You find yourself gritting your teeth, biting your nails and pacing.
These are some behavior symptoms that can be the result of experiencing a panic attack.
It’s important to realize that most of these signs are inter-related. Your thoughts may start racing, which will cause you to become nervous. Since you can’t relax because you are thinking a million miles a minute, your body will become tense, causing your muscles to become sore.
As you begin to panic more, it causes your heart to beat faster, which then causes even more panic and so on.
It’s not your fault if you suffer from panic, and there is help. Click here for help overcoming panic attacks
If you have been experiencing many of the symptoms above, then it is likely you are having panic attacks. It’s important that you do something about them now, because it is harmful to your body to continually put it through the stresses of a panic attack.
