Panic attacks can strike at any time or any place. For people who are
prone to them, they can rule their lives. For those who have had more
than one panic attack, the fear that another will occur can be
debilitating. Here is an FAQ on stopping panic attacks.
FAQ #1: What does a panic attack feel like?
A: During a panic or anxiety attack you can feel a range of feelings,
both mental and physical. You may feel that the world is closing in
on you. You might feel dizzy. Your heartbeat will likely be much,
much faster than usual. You might feel a tingling in your chest. You
may sweat. You may want to lie down and at the same time lose your
ability to concentrate. Also, an acute fear of dying accompanies the
panic attack for some people. Caution: If you do have a panic attack,
be sure to remove yourself from a situation whereby you might be of a
danger to others (such as driving a car).
FAQ #2: What causes panic attacks?
A: Physiologically, panic attacks usually involve an excess of
adrenaline suddenly entering into your system, in combination with a
number of other related factors going on in your body. The precise
cause of panic attacks is still under study, but the cause does seem
to vary from person to person. Some panic attacks seem to come on
unexpectedly. Other may be triggered by a traumatic event, such as a
car accident. Still others might be situation-specific, whereby the
attack is triggered after a certain pattern of circumstances arises
for the individual....

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