Symptoms of Panic Disorder

If someone starts sweating and shaking abruptly along with chest tightness, short of breathe and severe fear of going crazy then such symptoms point towards suffering from panic disorder. This disorder manifests itself through early symptoms of short of breathe, suffocation and chest pain which reaches its peak along with intense fear of going crazy or dying at the moment. The patient tries his best possible effort to get out of such distressing condition as soon as possible.

For exploring the symptoms of panic attack we take researched report from ‘DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria for Panic Attack’ according to which a patient suffering from panic disorder must exhibit at least four symptoms out of the list given here.                

• Dyspnea
• Chest pain or tightness
• Hot flashes or Chills
• Dyspepsia
• Dizziness/ Nausea/Lightheadedness
• Derealization or depersonalization
• Heart Palpitation
• Paresthesias   

Dyspnea means short of breathing with a feeling of suffocation. Such condition is detrimental to respiratory passage and related respiratory organs including lungs and heart vessels. The normal breathing rate of sufferer disturbed to abnormal level with rapid and abrupt breathing rate. Such disturbance and abnormality in respiratory process is called hyperventilation.         

Chest pain is another symptom of panic disorder coupled with the short of breathing. It mostly disturbs ribs and abdominal apparatus and adversely affects their normal functioning. In most of the cases patient recovers after few minutes but in case of prolonged chest pain it could be a life threatening problem.     

Hot or cold flashes involve the sensation of extremely hot or cold waves spreading across the body rapidly. It is mostly felt in facial or neck region. This condition is coupled with severe sweating and perspiration which lasts for few minutes during the attack.      

Dyspepsia means stomach upset along with severe pain in abdominal region, nausea, disturbance in gastrointestinal, bloating or swelling etc.   

Paresthesia is characterized by numbness of skin. It is manifested in two forms including transient paresthesia and chronic paresthesia. In transient paresthesia patient feels pricking of needles or pins into their hands and feet region while in chronic paresthesia patient suffers from dysfunctioning of neurons, blood clotting and formation of plaque in artery walls which enhances the chances of heart related problems.          

Dizziness, nausea or lightheadedness often occurs in combination leading lower blood pressure, fainting and unconsciousness with overall body weakness. In most case patient recovers after some time but in weak persons such condition could be a serious health concern which demand proper medical treatment.     

Derealization or Depersonalization involves obvious detachment from real world. In derealization patient reacts without taking notice of his surroundings while in depersonalization involves detachment from one’s inner world. Such condition makes the patient unable to control himself with an abnormal feeling of being a dreamland or another world.          

Heart Palpitation involves accelerated heart beat with a feeling of heart jumping around the chest cavity. In such situation patient feels that he is going to dye in next moment. Two extreme condition of heart beat including bradycardias (extremely slow heart beat) and tachycardias (100 heart beats per minute) occur during heart palpitation. It also disturbs the functioning of blood vessels and electrical conducting system.      

These were the symptoms or indication which proves the presence of a severe mental illness in a person. Whatever the symptoms patient is manifesting but if these are diagnosed correctly before reaching at their peak then patient can be treated and can get back to his normal healthy life along with its full enjoyment and sweetness.