What is a Panic attack?
- jopenty
- Jan 20
- 2 min read
A Panic Attack is a type of anxiety when you feel a sudden, intense rush of fear that seems to come out of the blue. It is frightening and overwhelming. During a panic attack, you might feel like you're losing control, going crazy, having a heart attack, or even dying.
Symptoms of a Panic Attack:
Rapid heartbeat
Sweating
Trembling or shaking
Shortness of breath
Depersonalisation, feeling disconnected from your environment
Chest pain
Nausea
Dizziness
Chills or hot flashes
An episode usually lasts for a few minutes, but the effects can linger for longer.
Causes: The exact cause of panic attacks is not known, but it may be related to genetics, stress, or changes in the way your brain functions.
When does a panic attack become Panic Disorder?
Panic Disorder is a diagnosable anxiety disorder which is characterised by:
recurring and unexpected panic attacks, and
Ongoing worry about having more attacks or their consequences (e.g., "What if I faint in public?").
Behavioural changes avoiding situations that might trigger an attack (e.g., avoiding crowded places).
Panic Disorder can interfere significantly with daily life and functioning.
📝 Example: A person with panic disorder might stop going to the gym or grocery store because they fear another panic attack happening there.
Treatment: While Panic disorder can be treated with therapy, medication, or a combination of both, Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is the treatment of choice as it is very effective. Following CBT, 90% of individuals were symptom-free two years later. It helps you understand and change the thought patterns that lead to panic attacks.
The good news is that with CBT you can manage your symptoms and lead a healthy, fulfilling life. If you think you have panic disorder, call Time4Talk for a brief, free 15-minute phone consultation to see if CBT is a good match.
Here are a couple of excellent videos:
CBT for Panic Attacks with Barbara Heffernan
Other Resources
The Centre for Clinical Interventions (CCI), WA, has a series of 7 self-help modules - very useful for Panic Attacks:
Find useful information and worksheets @ CCI, to support you.
You may still find it helpful to get support for your panic attacks as they can be challenging to manage. Joanna Penty, Lead CBT Therapist @ Time4Talk is skilled at working with panic attacks, alternatively psychologists can also work with panic attacks.
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