Symptoms of Panic Disorder often begin to appear before 25 years of age. If you have had four or more panic attacks, or you live in fear of having another panic attack after experiencing one, you may have a panic disorder. Panic attacks produce intense fear that begins suddenly, often with no warning. An attack typically lasts for 10 to 20 minutes, but in extreme cases, symptoms may last for more than an hour. The experience is different for everyone, and symptoms often vary.
Common symptoms associated with a panic attack include:
- racing heartbeat or palpitations
- shortness of breath
- feeling like you are choking
- dizziness (vertigo)
- lightheadedness
- nausea
- sweating or chills
- shaking or trembling
- changes in mental state, including a feeling of derealization (feeling of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from oneself)
- numbness or tingling in your hands or feet
- chest pain or tightness
- fear that you might die
