A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear or discomfort that can last from a few minutes to half an hour. Panic attacks can occur at any time, even during sleep, and can be very frightening. The fear and terror that a person experiences during a panic attack are not in proportion to the true situation and may be unrelated to what is happening around them. Some of the signs and symptoms of a panic attack include:

• Sudden high anxiety with or without a cause
• A "racing" heart
• Feeling weak, faint, or dizzy
• Shaking
• Tingling or numbness in the hands and fingers
• Sense of terror, or impending doom or death
• Feeling sweaty or having chills
• Nausea
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Breathing difficulties, including a "smothering" sensation or shortness of breath
• A feeling of choking
• Feeling a loss of control
• A sense of unreality
• A fear of going crazy or losing control
• A fear of dying

To be diagnosed as a panic attack, the episode must have at least four of these symptoms simultaneously. Panic attacks can also have physical symptoms that might feel like a heart attack, such as trembling, tingling, or rapid heart rate. After a panic attack subsides, a person may feel fatigued and worn out. If you experience recurring panic attacks, you may have panic disorder, which is a type of anxiety disorder.