Panic Attacks Introduction

Based on a UK National Health Service self help document.

Understanding panic attacks, their causes and ways to overcome them will create more restful sleep and, perhaps more importantly, allow you to live your life to its greatest potential.

What is a panic attack?

Everyone knows what panic is, and it is common to feel panicky from time to time:

1. You get the sense that you are being followed on your way home from a party, late at night.
2. You discover you have had your wallet stolen.
3. You are sitting an exam. You look at the paper and realize you don’t know the answers to any of the questions.
4. Someone runs in front of your car and you almost hit them.

It would be normal in any of these situations to feel a sense of panic. The feeling would be understandable and would pass fairly quickly.

A panic attack’s a bit like 'normal' panic, but different in a number of ways:

1. The feelings seem to come 'out of the blue’ and are not usually related to the sort of frightening situation described above.
2. The feelings are a lot stronger.

As the feelings are UNEXPECTED and STRONG they can feel extremely frightening.

Panic attacks affect people in many different ways, but there is usually a frightening feeling that something really awful is about to happen.

THE TRUTH IS: NOTHING AWFUL IS GOING TO HAPPEN, AS PANIC ATTACKS ARE NOT DANGEROUS.

Lots of people have panic attacks, although they can affect people in different ways. Some people have only one, others may have them for many years. Some people have them every day, some people only once in a while. If you were to ask all of your friends if they had ever had a panic attack, it is very likely that at least one or two will have had the same experience. They are quite common
and NOT a sign of serious mental or physical illness.

Some non-serious physical conditions can cause symptoms similar
to panic attacks.

For example:
1. certain medicines taken together;
2. thyroid problems;
3. drinking too much caffeine;
4. pregnancy;
5. low blood sugar; etc
If, after reading this page, you are concerned that your problem may have a physical cause and you have not yet had a check-up from your doctor, then it may be a good idea to make an appointment.

SUMMARY:
Panic attacks are very common. They are NOT dangerous and are NOT a sign of serious mental or physical illness.

The pages in this section aim to help you reduce your panic attacks by helping you to:

1. Recognize whether or not you are having panic attacks.
2. Understand panic, what causes it and what keeps it going.
3. Accept that panic cannot harm you.
4. Learn techniques to reduce panic.