Panic Care
Use when asked for general educational information about panic attack/panic disorder care — common symptoms, general self-care measures, and when to seek medical attention — for education only, not medical advice; always direct the reader to consult a doctor or health care professional.
> ⚠️ Ask your doctor or health care professional. This information is AI generated for education and NOT medical advice.
A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear with strong physical symptoms, often peaking within minutes. Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks with ongoing worry about future attacks may indicate panic disorder.
Common symptoms
Rapid heartbeat, chest pain or tightness, shortness of breath, trembling, sweating, dizziness, a feeling of choking or losing control, and a sense of impending doom — often intensely frightening despite not being physically dangerous in itself.
General self-care measures
- Practice slow, controlled breathing during an attack — many people find focusing on a slow exhale particularly helpful.
- Ground yourself using sensory techniques (naming things you can see, hear, touch) to interrupt escalating fear.
- Remind yourself that a panic attack, while frightening, typically peaks and subsides within minutes and is not itself dangerous.
- Work with a therapist on longer-term strategies if attacks recur, since avoidance of triggering situations often worsens panic disorder over time.
When to seek medical attention
- A first panic attack, especially since chest pain and other physical symptoms can overlap with a genuine medical emergency and should be evaluated, particularly the first time.
- Recurrent panic attacks affecting daily life or causing avoidance behaviour.
- Physical symptoms that don't fit a typical panic attack pattern — when uncertain, seek urgent evaluation; see Urgent Emergency Care.
Common pitfalls
- Assuming chest pain during a first episode is definitely a panic attack — cardiac and panic symptoms can overlap significantly; a first episode especially warrants medical evaluation to rule out a physical cause.
- Avoiding places or situations associated with a past panic attack — avoidance tends to reinforce and worsen panic disorder over time rather than resolving it.
- Underestimating how treatable panic disorder is — with appropriate therapy (often CBT-based) and, for some, medication, panic disorder responds well to treatment.
Learn more
- Anxiety Care for the broader anxiety category panic attacks often relate to.
- Mental Health Assessment for related clinical screening.
- Health Care for general navigation of health systems.