o abnormalities–only a rapid heartbeat.(2)
There’s a big difference between what happens with your heart during a panic attack and what happens in a heart attack. During a panic attack, your heart may race, pound, and at times miss or have extra beats. Some people even report chest pains in the left-upper portion of their chest, which pass fairly quickly. Note that none of these symptoms is aggravated by movement or increased physical activity.
During a true heart attack, the most common symptom is continuous pain and a pressured, even crushing sensation in the center of the chest. Racing or pounding of the heart may occur but this is secondary to the pain. Moreover, the pain and pressure get worse upon exertion and may tend to diminish with rest.(3) This is quite different from a panic attack, where racing and pounding may get worse if you stand still and lessen if you move around.
“I’m going to stop breathing and suffocate.”
A Panic Attack Will Not Cause You to Stop Breathing or Suffocate
Many people feel their chests tighten and their breathing become restricted during a panic attack.(1) This might lead you to suddenly fear that you’re going to suffocate. Under stress your neck and chest muscles tighten and reduce your respiratory capacity. In reality, there is nothing wrong with your breathing passage or lungs, and the tightening sensations will pass.
Your brain has a built-in reﬂex mechanism that will eventually force you to breathe if you’re not getting enough oxygen. If you don’t believe this, try holding your breath for as long as you can and observe what happens. At a certain point you’ll feel a strong reﬂex to take in more air.(1) The same thing will happen in a panic attack if you’re not getting enough oxygen. You’ll automatically gasp and take a deep breath long before reaching the point where you could pass out from a lack of oxygen. And even if you did pass out, you would immediately start breathing!
“I m going to pass out.”
A Panic Attack Cannot Cause You to Faint
The sensation of light-headedness you may feel with the onset of panic can make you certain you are about to faint. What is happening is that as a part of the “fight-or-flight” reaction the blood circulation to your brain is slightly reduced, most likely because you are breathing more rapidly.(4)
This is not dangerous and can be relieved by breathing slowly and regularly from your abdomen, preferably through you nose. This feeling can also be helped by taking the first opportunity you have to walk around a bit. Let the feelings of light-headedness rise and subside without fighting them. Because your heart is pumping harder and actually increasing your circulation, you are very unlikely to faint.
“I’m going to fall.”
A Panic Attack Cannot Cause You to Lose Your Balance
Sometimes you may feel quite dizzy when panic comes on. It may be that tension is affecting the semicircular canal system in your inner ear, which regulates your balance. For a few moments you may feel dizzy or it even may seem that things around you are spinning. Invariably this sensation will pass. It isn’t dangerous and very unlikely to be so strong that you’ll actually lose your balance.(1)
If sensations of pronounced dizziness persist for more than a few seconds, you may want to consult a doctor (preferably an otolaryngologist——an ear, nose, and throat doctor) to check if infection, allergies, or other disturbances might be affecting your inner ear.
“I won’t be able to walk”
You won’t fall when you feel “weak in the knees” during a Panic Attack
The adrenaline released during a panic attack can dilate the blood vessels in your legs, causing blood to accumulate in your leg muscles and not fully circulate. This can produce a sensation of weakness or “jelly legs,” to which you may respond with the fear that might fall or you won’t be able to walk. But this sensation is just that–a sensation–and your legs are as strong and able to carry you as ever.(5) They won’t give way! Just allow these trembling, weak sensations to pass and give your legs the chance to carry you where you need t