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How To Feel Better After A Panic Attack
Have you ever been so afraid that you’re about to die? Your heart is racing, and you have a difficult time breathing. That could be a panic attack. According to WebMD, panic attacks come out of nowhere or can be triggered by an event. They can occur at any time, even while sleeping. You’re scared for your life, and often people think they are having a heart attack because they get chest pains. During a heart attack, you feel chest pain towards the left side, but during a panic attack, you experience it in the mid-chest area. It can be hard to rationalize the pain when it’s happening, as it suddenly scares you a lot. Other physical symptoms of a panic attack include feeling like you’re losing control of things or going crazy. About 6 million American adults experience panic attacks, and it’s more common among women than men.
Generally, panic attacks last about 10 minutes. However, they can last longer, like 20–30 minutes but the intense feelings of fear and anxiety start fading as the minutes go by, per Banyan Mental Health. Anxiety disorders are among the main causes of panic attacks. Your body goes into a flight or fight response, which leads to physical symptoms such as shaking, shortness of breath, and even dizziness or numbness. It can be terrifying to experience fear accompanied by such strong physical symptoms like your life is going to end.
