Panic attack

A panic attack is an abrupt surge of intense fear that peaks within minutes and brings physical symptoms such as a pounding heart, sweating and shortness of breath.

Other features can include trembling, chest pain, nausea, dizziness, chills or hot flushes, numbness, a sense of unreality, and fear of losing control or dying. Attacks may be triggered by a specific situation or arrive unexpectedly, and they can occur in many conditions, including social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, specific phobias and depression, or in otherwise healthy people under stress. Panic disorder is diagnosed only when attacks recur unexpectedly and are followed by persistent worry about further attacks or avoidance behavior.

Clinicians assess panic attacks by history, rule out medical mimics such as thyroid disease, heart rhythm problems and stimulant use, and use structured questionnaires to gauge frequency and severity. Psychotherapy, especially cognitive behavioral approaches, and certain medications are established treatments. Cannabinoids have been studied for anxiety in small experimental settings, but there is little research specific to panic attacks, and high-THC cannabis can itself provoke panic symptoms in some people.