Panic attacks are characterised by individuals experiencing sudden and unexpected episodes of intense anxiety, whilst also experiencing a series of unpleasant physical symptoms. These physical symptoms can be so debilitating that some first-time sufferers believe that they are experiencing a heart attack or a nervous breakdown. If they are left untreated, panic attacks become more frequent and the fear of having a panic attack increases, thus resulting in the development of a ‘vicious circle’.
A panic attack is a state of intense fear or discomfort emerging suddenly, often without warning, and for no apparent reason from either a calm or anxious state. During panic attacks various other psychological as well as physical symptoms may occur. These powerful and upsetting symptoms will scare the person into experiencing variety irrational thoughts, such as: “I`m dying”/ “I`m going crazy”/” I`m about to faint or lose control”/” I have to escape from here”, etc.