A typical response to hearing the phrase "panic attack" in conversation is
lighthearted skepticism, or at best, kind but incompletely-understanding
empathy. I wasn't even aware it was an actual
condition until it happened to me and I started to read up on it; I'd always thought it was just a sort of dramatic
idiom.
If you're only familiar with the symptoms of a panic attack through secondhand knowledge, they do seem pretty strange. At the drop of a hat, and potentially due to no traceable trigger, one falls prey to:
Although this surely seems ridiculous to an unaffected individual, especially the last item on the list, the feelings are indistinguishable from
reality to those suffering the panic attack. Depending on the severity of one's affliction with
panic disorder, they may find it hard to manage previously straightforward aspects of their
life, and it is not uncommon for one in the grip of a particularly intense attack to take an unnecessary trip to the
emergency room. Although no outright "cure" is available, there are some
prescription drugs and
psychiatric techniques that can help. On a
personal note, I've found that spending time in the company of
close friends, or even simpler things like making your way to some
fresh air can help the situation a lot.