A realistic depiction of a panic attack can vary from person to person, as everyone experiences them differently. However, some common symptoms of a panic attack include:

• Firstly, a sudden and intense feeling of fear, apprehension, or impending doom
• Rapid heartbeat, sweating, and trembling or shaking
• Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, or choking sensations
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Nausea, stomach cramps, and digestive issues
• Dizziness or feeling lightheaded
• Tingling or numbness in the hands or fingers
• Feeling detached from reality or like you’re outside of your body (known as depersonalization or derealization)
• Fear of losing control
• Finally, fear of dying

Panic attacks can be very frightening and distressing, and they are often unexpected and unpredictable. Consequently, it’s important to note that experiencing occasional attacks is relatively common, but frequent and ongoing panic attacks may be a sign of panic disorder. Also, it’s important to seek professional help if your symptoms begin to significantly impact your daily life.

“The waterfall, while scary, would’ve released us. The panic attack will also release you. Just relax, and don’t feel weird about being vocal about your feelings. … Just breathe, And if possible, drink the nearest thing to you.”― Mamrie Hart, You Deserve a Drink: Boozy Misadventures and Tales of Debauchery

What does a real panic attack look like?

During a panic attack, a person may feel an overwhelming sense of terror or dread, which can make it difficult to stay calm or rational. Subsequently, they may feel like they’re in serious danger or that something terrible is about to happen, even if there’s no actual threat present. Also, they may also experience physical symptoms that can mimic a heart attack or other serious medical condition, which can add to the fear and confusion.

It’s important to note that while panic attacks can be very distressing and uncomfortable, they are not dangerous and do not typically cause long-term harm. However, it’s important to seek professional help if you experience frequent or severe panic attacks, as this can be a sign of an underlying mental health condition that may benefit from treatment.

“Panic attacks are a lot like being drunk in some ways, you lose self-control. You cry for seemingly no reason. You deal with the hangover long into the next day.”
― Sara Barnard, A Quiet Kind of Thunder

What is descriptive of a panic attack?

A panic attack is a sudden onset of intense fear or discomfort that can peak within minutes and can have a range of symptoms. At length, here are more descriptive breakdown of what a panic attack may look like:

1. Physical symptoms: During a panic attack, you might experience several physical symptoms such as a pounding heart, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, or dizziness. As a matter of fact, these symptoms may make you feel like you are in danger or that there is something wrong with your body.
2. Cognitive symptoms: Panic attacks can also cause cognitive symptoms such as racing thoughts or a feeling of being disconnected from reality. You may also have negative thoughts about yourself or the situation, and you may feel like you are losing control, or dying.
3. Triggers: Panic attacks can be triggered by specific situations, such as public speaking, enclosed spaces, or heights. In some cases, they may also be triggered by underlying medical or mental health conditions.
4. Duration: Panic attacks can last from a few minutes to an hour, although the symptoms may continue for longer. After the attack subsides, you may feel drained or exhausted.
5. Frequency: Panic attacks can occur once in a while or quite frequently. Therefore, if you experience repeated or severe panic attacks, you may have a medical condition called panic disorder, which can be managed with therapy or medication.

As a result. it’s important to note that each person’s experience of the realistic panic attack may vary, and the symptoms described above may not cover all the potential experiences.

What can resemble a panic attack?

Several conditions may resemble a panic attack, making it difficult to differentiate the realistic depiction of a panic. Here are some conditions that can be misdiagnosed as panic attacks:

1. Heart attack: Heart attack symptoms can include chest pain, difficulty breathing, and sweating. However, since some of these symptoms are similar to panic attack symptoms, a person who has a heart attack for the first time may think they are having a panic attack.
2. Hyperventilation: Hyperventilation occurs when you breathe too quickly or too shallowly, leading to a drop in carbon dioxide levels in your blood. Be that as it may, it can cause symptoms like lightheadedness, tingling sensations, and chest discomfort, which can be similar to panic attacks.
3. Anxiety disorders: Anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and phobias, can cause similar symptoms to panic attacks. For example, such symptoms include excessive worry, fear, and physical symptoms like sweating, trembling that resemble panic attacks.
4. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): PTSD can cause symptoms like nightmares, flashbacks, and intense feelings of fear or anxiety, which can be similar to panic attacks.
5. Substance-induced anxiety disorder: In general, certain medications, drugs, or alcohol can cause anxiety symptoms like palpitations, sweating, and trembling. These can be similar to panic attacks.
6. Other health conditions: Subsequently, several other health conditions, including thyroid disorders, epilepsy, and certain neurological disorders, can cause symptoms similar to those of panic attacks.

“It’s okay to panic. It’s okay to be scared and to have no clue what you’re doing. As long as you keep going. As long as you keep fighting.”― K.T. Kaye, Master of Darkness

“A rich, full, and meaningful life comes about hrough accepting your thoughts and feelings instead of fighting them, and taking effective action, guided by your deepest values.”― Russ HarWhat can resemble a

What does a panic attack look to an outsider?

It’s important for an outsider to recognize realistic depiction of a panic Attacksomeone experiencing a panic attack might appear to be in distress, but it can be difficult to identify what exactly is happening. Here are some possible signs that an outsider may notice:

1. Physical symptoms: The person might exhibit physical symptoms such as rapid breathing, sweating, trembling, or a racing heartbeat. Therefore, they may seem restless or fidgety and may appear to be in discomfort.
2. Distress: The person may look upset or frightened and might seem agitated, panicked, or overwhelmed. They might also appear to be withdrawn or detached.
3. Attempts to escape or avoid: In some cases, the person might try to escape or avoid the situation they are in, possibly expressed as pacing around, making rushed movements.
4. Verbal statements: Subsequently, the person might verbally express some statements like saying they feel like they are dying, experiencing difficulty breathing, or their body is out of control.
5. Seeking help: In some cases, the person might ask others for help or reassurance or might look around frantically for any type of help.

It’s important to note that these signs may not necessarily indicate the realistic depiction of a panic attack . Hence, an outsider may need to ask the person what’s going on or provide support in case these are indications of a panic attack. At this point, an outsider can offer assistance by maintaining a supportive manner, not dismissing the person’s feelings and reinforcing the idea that everything is going to be okay. Also, encouraging the person to breathe calmly with them may also often help them calm down.

“No one had ever wanted me. And for some reason I didn’t even want me anymore. I wished I could have stepped out of my body and given it back, like you do with a shirt that doesn’t fit properly.”― Stefanie Sybens, Letters from the What-Went-Before

Useful Contacts

Here are some contacts in aiding with the realistic depiction of a panic attack:

Mind’s services

Mind’s helplines provide information and support by phone and email.
Local Minds offer face-to-face services across England and Wales. These services include talking therapies, peer support and advocacy.
Side by Side is our supportive online community for anyone experiencing a mental health problem.
Other organizations
Anxiety Care UK
anxietycare.org.uk
Helps people with anxiety disorders.

Anxiety UK

03444 775 774 (helpline)
07537 416 905 (text)
anxietyuk.org.uk
Advice and support for people living with anxiety.

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)

bacp.co.uk

Professional body for talking therapy and counselling. Provides information and a list of accredited therapists.

Hub of Hope

hubofhope.co.uk
UK-wide mental health service database. Lets you search for local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support. You can filter results to find specific kinds of support.

NHS Services Finder

nhs.uk/service-search (England)
111.wales.nhs.uk/localservices (Wales)
Searchable database of NHS services.

NHS talking therapies self-referral

nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-an-nhs-talking-therapies-service
Information about local NHS therapy services for certain mental health problems. You can self-refer (England only) but you must be registered with a GP.

No More Panic

nomorepanic.co.uk
Provides information, support and advice for those with panic disorder, anxiety, phobias or OCD, including a forum and chat room.

No Panic

0300 7729844
nopanic.org.uk
Provides a helpline, step-by-step programs, and support for people with anxiety disorders.

Articles

-What Does a Panic Attack Look Like?

https://www.3cfamilyservices.com/2016/10/19/what-does-a-panic-attack-look-like/#:~:text=While%20a%20popular%20portrait%20of,may%20actually%20shut%20down%20completely.&text=A%20panic%20attack%20can%20induce,these%20are%20all%20internal%20symptoms.

-Panic disorders

https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/panic-disorders-a-to-z#:~:text=Many%20medical%20illnesses%20can%20cause,levels%20of%20certain%20blood%20chemicals.

Have a Good One,

Cindee Murphy, One Voice – Unstoppable

“in my experience, the words “now just calm down” almost inevitably have the opposite effect on the person you are speaking to.”
― Elyn R. Saks, The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness

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