What are the symptoms of panic disorder? Acute panic attack symptoms

Panic disorder, also known as acute anxiety disorder, may present with symptoms such as palpitations, sweating, tremors, difficulty breathing, and a sense of impending death during acute panic attacks. The symptoms of panic disorder mainly include palpitations, chest tightness, suffocation, loss of control, and disintegration of reality.

1. Palpitation

Palpitation is one of the most common symptoms of panic attacks, where patients may suddenly feel a strong beating or rapid heartbeat, which may be accompanied by discomfort in the precordial area. This symptom is often mistaken for a heart attack, but electrocardiogram examination usually shows no abnormalities. During palpitations, patients may experience strong fear, which further exacerbates their anxiety response. Some patients may experience a brief increase in blood pressure, but it generally does not reach dangerous levels.

2. Chest tightness

Chest tightness is characterized by a feeling of compression or tightness in the chest, which patients often describe as "shortness of breath" or "a large stone pressing on the chest". This symptom is related to hyperventilation, where anxiety leads to increased respiratory rate and actual blood oxygen levels may be normal. Some patients may involuntarily adopt shallow and fast breathing patterns, forming a vicious cycle. The symptoms of chest tightness usually peak within 10-30 minutes and gradually improve thereafter.

III. Suffocation

Suffocation is a characteristic symptom of panic attacks, where patients feel unable to inhale enough air and may develop hyperventilation syndrome. This feeling originates from the brain's sensitive response to changes in carbon dioxide concentration, rather than true hypoxia. Some patients may experience a tightening sensation in the throat or difficulty swallowing, but the airway is actually unobstructed. Deep breathing exercises can help alleviate subjective breathing difficulties.

4. Sense of loss of control

Sense of loss of control refers to the sudden and intense fear of losing control or going insane in patients, which is the core psychological symptom of panic attacks. Patients may be afraid of losing their composure or exhibiting abnormal behavior in public, but in reality, they rarely truly lose their ability to control their behavior. This feeling is related to excessive secretion of norepinephrine, which can lead to avoidance behavior in patients, such as suddenly leaving public places.

V. Reality disintegration

Reality disintegration is manifested as an unreal sense of the environment or self, and patients may feel that the surrounding world has become blurred or distant. This symptom is related to temporary dysfunction of the prefrontal cortex and is a characteristic experience of panic attacks. Some patients may experience changes in perception over time or abnormal sensations in their body parts. Reality disintegration usually lasts for a short period of time, but can cause significant psychological distress to patients. The symptoms of panic attacks usually appear suddenly, reaching their peak within 10 minutes and lasting for 20-30 minutes, rarely exceeding 1 hour. After the attack, the patient continues to worry about another attack and may develop avoidance behavior. It is recommended to maintain a regular daily routine, avoid excessive fatigue and caffeine intake, and learn relaxation techniques such as abdominal breathing. When symptoms frequently occur or affect daily life, professional help should be sought in a timely manner. Psychological therapy combined with medication intervention is more effective. Moderate aerobic exercise can be performed in daily life to maintain a social support system and avoid excessive focus on physical sensations.