How do terrible panic attacks occur?

The panic attack is a very intense anxiety reaction, accompanied by the feeling of lack of ability to control this reaction, even it is the conviction that oneself may die at that moment. This anxiety crisis can occur in different situations (while a person is driving, inside an elevator, in the street, sleeping, etc.), which will be avoided later before they cause irreversible damage.

The keys to this disorder must be sought, because on the one hand we find the type of thoughts that provoke them, which could become highly worrying, catastrophic (such as imminent death, heart attack, dizziness and loss of consciousness, and so on.); and on the other hand, we find hyperventilation (agitated breathing) that causes a very rapid increase in generalized physiological activation.

It is worth mentioning that catastrophic thoughts are caused by an incorrect interpretation of anxiety symptoms (physiological activation).

Therefore, according to the international classification of mental disorders, the criteria to diagnose a panic attack (or anxiety crisis) would be:

First, there is the temporary and isolated appearance of intense fear or discomfort, accompanied by four or more of the following 13 symptoms, which begin abruptly and reach their maximum expression in the first 10 minutes.

1) Palpitations, heart palpitations, or elevated heart rate.

2) Sweating.

3) Tremors or shaking.

4) Choking sensation or shortness of breath.

5) Choking sensation.

6) Chest tightness or discomfort.

7) Nausea or abdominal discomfort.

8) Instability, dizziness or fainting.

9) Derealization or depersonalization.

10) Fear of losing control or going crazy.

11) Fear of dying.

12) Paresthesias.

13) Chills or hot flashes.

Nausea or dizziness may also occur, and all these types of anxiety attacks or panic attacks are treated with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Rational-Emotive-Behavioral Therapy (REBT).