How Do I Know if I'm Having a Panic Attack?
by Mark Sichel, LCSW
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association is the guide therapists use to diagnose a specific mental problem.
According to this book, the following signs and symptoms are indicative of a panic attack:
- Sudden onset, it hits from "out of the blue"
- A feeling of great danger, impending doom and a wish to run are common accompaniments
- A feeling of going crazy or having a serious medical illness like a heart attack
- A feeling that you are about to die or lose control
- Experiencing at least 4 of 13 identified physical symptoms.
For an assessment of your symptoms, please check each box below next to a symptom you are experiencing. When you are finished, please press submit for your results:
If you do not wish to assess your symptoms at this time and would like to continue with the lesson on Panic Disorders, please read You Are Not to Blame.
If you would like to start at the beginning of the Panic Disorder lessons, please read What to Expect When You are Diagnosed with a Panic Disorder.
References:
DSMIV, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association, pp. 394-395.
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