panic attack meaning
Noun: panic attack
- A sudden attack of fear
- scare
Derived forms: panic attacks
Type of: fear, fearfulness, fright
Encyclopedia: Panic attack
[Medicine]
A type of anxiety disorder characterized by unexpected panic attacks that last minutes or,rarely,hours. Panic attacks begin with intense apprehension,fear or terror and,often,a feeling of impending doom. Symptoms experienced during a panic attack include dyspnea or sensations of being smothered; dizziness,loss of balance or faintness; choking sensations; palpitations or accelerated heart rate; shakiness; sweating; nausea or other form of abdominal distress; depersonalization or derealization; paresthesias; hot flashes or chills; chest discomfort or pain; fear of dying and fear of not being in control of oneself or going crazy. Agoraphobia may also develop. Similar to other anxiety disorders,it may be inherited as an autosomal dominant trait.
Examples
More: Next- a panic attack is a sudden feeling of terror
- were you to have a panic attack, what should you do
- telly, this is a panic attack . you just hold on, all right
- -you really have panic attacks ?-oh, all the time
- if you suffered from panic attack, what should you do
