What do you think means a 'panic attack'?

Question

I would really like to know what people believe as panic attck symptoms and what constitutes it to be a panic attack. I have had a severe panic attack when I was 22. There are people saying they had panic attacks at 14? 16? I am not being predjudiced about age, but I was going to college full time, had practicum I also had a full time job that I had to work at . After going to school and homework and 70 hrs of work per week for about a month(very busy resturaunt, that I was a cook at). Due to loss of employees. MY mind and body finally had it and I literally hit a brick wall mentally. I was hyperventalating, sick, shaking, nervous twitching, screaming. TIRED. I have anxiety attacks everyonce in a blue moon just thinking of panic attacks. I had to quit work. I was on serious drugs that there would be no way I could function properly in public for a while. ANd teens are having these during school...do they even finish school? No smart comments plz.

Oh and for some info from a doc, panic attacks are a higher level of anxiety attacks. I could have several anxiety attacks until I had my panic attack.

Answer 1

You already answered your own question. Look at your life situation at that point. 70hrs of work a week, practicum, full time college. Your mind and body did literally hit a brick wall. The mind and body are intertwined. You weaken your energy, you weaken your minds ability to concentrate, and your bodys ability to make it through a day. It's never a waterfall over night that makes you crash, it's the slow drip drip drip, over time that creeps up on you. Take a break, slow down, your not in a rat race. Find the things that you use to enjoy before your panic attacks. If you think back when you were young, you will come across small signs that show you what makes you happy. Those times when nothing mattered except the moment, somewhere along the line, society got the best of you, or your own outlandish dream. Happiness and peace doesn't come from working 70hrs a week, full school and all the rest of that stuff just so you can get out of school to work 80 hours at a job, to make 200,000 a year, to buy all your favorite things, just to realize you kicked the crap out of your body, and you don't have energy to even enjoy the simplest things, like a sunny day, a sunset, the stars, a soft kiss, a good meal, a great laugh, a friends smile, a day that goes so fast because you had so much fun! Forget people, and concentrate on your health and well being, even though it's sooo hard to do, you can't enjoy yourself unless yourself feels joy, and thats by being healthy! Think of a peak performance athlete! They are in bad *** shape, confident and STRONG! so keep your body strong, the mind will follow. It's a panic attack, your body isn't where it needs to be!

Ps, I've had panic attacks, social anxiety and all the rest. They happened when I was exhausted, had bags under my eyes, felt like ****, ate bad, slept bad, over worked. When I take care of myself, eat right, sleep right, excercise, do the right things, I feel strong and confident. So do the math!

Answer 2

Hi Lovebud, You have really had your books full. I can see why you hit a brick wall. Way to must for anyone to handle and your mind just shuts down to keep you from having a nerves break down. I REALLY DON'T THINK AT 14 OR 16 they would be having a real panic attack.True there are pressure at high school but nothing to cause that. A panic attack would be like a small kid in a store with mom and they wonder away and then mom or the child have no ideal where each other are. This is a true Panic Attack on both of them.if you were walking home from a movie show and a group of guys come up behind you and trys to pick you up. You run and you are having a panic attack because you are scare to death that they will harm you. THINGS LIKE THIS CAN CAUSE A PANIC ATTACK. LOL LOL.
A Friend.
Clowmy

Answer 3

Some folks have panic/anxiety attacks for clinical/chemical reasons, they're not always stress induced or triggered.

I'd had them most of my life and just never knew what they were until I was in my late 20's and a doc was finally able to help me. God, the things I missed doing assuming the trouble was phobias. I can't tell you how many mornings I sat straight up in bed feeling that "bottom dropped out" sensation you get cresting the top of a roller coaster, along with sweating, and the uncontrollable need to go outside for some weird reason.
Not to mention the pounding heart, ear roaring, dizzy, sure I'm gonna die stuff....

Anyway, comes down to producing too much adrenaline causing irrational fight or flight reactions, which with meds has been under control for the second 20 years of my life - I no longer run out of stores, wake up in a panic, miss work, all the lovely little things anxiety disorders can make impossible. Too bad that back in the 60's-70's none of this was really understood and the meds didn't exist. Would have changed my teen years immeasurably.

Anyway, it can happen at any age, for a variety of reasons and thankfully it can be recognized and treated.

Best of luck to you!

Answer 4

Panic attacks are experiences of extreme anxiety which occur out of the blue with no identifiable stressor (allthough there is surely one present, the individual will not be aware of it) that are accompanied by somatic (bodily) symtoms which can include heart palpatations, shortness of breath, chest pains, dizziness, trembling, feeling "spaced out", feeling like you are having a heart attack, and/ or feeling like you are "going crazy" (although you are not going crazy).

People can experience panic attacks and/or panic disorder at any age even as young children. In addition Generized anxiety disorder with anxiety attacks, or just anxiety attacks can also occur at any age. Each person has their own physical and mental limits,as well as their own biological and environmental vulnerabilities. What to one person might seem like a dream is anothers worst nightmare and vice versa. Some young people do not finish school because of their anxiety disorders particularly if they are untreated. Often you will not hear about these cases because people become embarrassed or feel shameful about their symtoms, particularly if others might not feel their stressors or worries warrant the symtoms they experience.

And just for an FYI for anyone confused about the difference between panic attacks and anxiety attacks. There is a difference, although the bodily sensations are often the same (heart palpations, chest pain, shortness of breath, feeling out of touch), to be called a "panic attack" this experiece must occur 'out of the blue', not because of any identifiable stressor (at least initially). Many people with panic disorder will say that they awaken from a dead sleep with heart palpatations, chest pain, etc etc. Anxiety attacks feel the same, the only difference is you can identify what is upsetting (ie worrying you can't or won't get your work done, fearing that a loved one is hurt, thinking about being unable to meet your financial responsibilities, see an animal that they have a phobia of etc.).


The difference between having a panic attack vs having panic disorder is simply the frequency that they are experienced. The DSM specifies a particular amount of attacks per month or per week to render the panic disorder diagnosis. However this does not make a single attack any less horrifying.

Despite all this in popular culture peole often refer to both anxiety and panic attacks as simply panic attacks, however diagnostically they do have some distinct differences.


Hope that helps! Stay Healthy!

DMZ

Answer 5

you've gotten some good answers. I just wanted to add that yes teens can have panic attacks. We don't know what may be going on in their life, but they are suffering thru something awful.

Answer 6

Panic attacks are anxiety attacks, I used to have them and they were awful. Jesus delivered me from these attacks and gave me peace of mind and body. I didn't feel like I was dying all the time and I can finally live and enjoy my life God has given me and he will for you too if you will only ask in prayer!! God Bless!!

Answer 7

I have had them and my doctor gave me medication. It was when I was experiencing 2 tramatic events in my life.
Panic attacks are frightening but fortunately physically harmless episodes. They can occur at random or after a person is exposed to various events that may "trigger" a panic attack. They peak in intensity very rapidly and go away with or without medical help.
People experiencing panic attacks may fear they are dying, that they are suffocating, or that they are having a heart attack. They may voice fears that they are "going crazy" and seek to remove themselves from whatever situation they may be in.
Some people may begin breathing very rapidly and complain that their "hearts are jumping around in their chest." Then, within about an hour, the symptoms fade away.

Answer 8

You can learn more about panic attacks at this site:

http://improvedhealthandfitness.com/Panic_Attacks.html

Hope this helps...