A panic attack feels like a sudden and intense episode of fear or anxiety that triggers a range of physical and emotional symptoms. Common sensations include:

• A racing or pounding heartbeat
• Shortness of breath or feeling like you’re choking
• Chest pain or tightness
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, or feeling faint
• Trembling or shaking
• Sweating, chills, or hot flushes
• Nausea or abdominal discomfort
• Tingling or numbness in the hands or fingers
• Dry mouth
• Muscle tension
• A feeling of unreality or detachment from oneself or surroundings (derealization or depersonalization)
• Intense fear of losing control, going mad, having a heart attack, or dying

These symptoms usually come on quickly and can last from a few minutes up to half an hour, though some effects may linger for hours. The experience can be so overwhelming that it feels like a medical emergency, such as a heart attack, even though the symptoms are not physically harmful

. People often describe panic attacks as a "fight-or-flight" response gone into overdrive, where the body reacts as if there is immediate danger even when there is none. This can lead to feelings of intense dread and irrational thoughts

. In summary, a panic attack is a sudden surge of overwhelming anxiety accompanied by distressing physical symptoms and a strong fear of losing control or dying, often occurring unexpectedly and without an obvious trigger