What is a Panic Attack?

A panic attack can occur when we find ourselves either physically or emotionally under threat. It will usually trigger an adrenalin rush within us which will divert oxygen away from our core organs in order to increase the supply to our limbs in order for us to react in a faster, stronger way, depending on whether we decide to fight or flee as it were. This adrenalin rush will cause our heart rate to increase or to become uneven. It can have other effects such as shorter sharper breathing or having a feeling that breathing is more difficult because or chest feels heavy. Dizziness is another side effect, this can, in turn, lead to us feeling physically sick combined with fever like symptoms of shaking and sweating. A panic attack will normally be over fairly quickly as once we recover from the initial shock that triggered it, then we are able to assess and resolve the problem.