If you’ve had panic attacks before, but are only recently learning that this cluster of symptoms is a specific and recognized medical phenomenon, it can be both comforting and frightening. Know that you are not alone, but also that not everyone deals with this.
Living with panic and anxiety is an added challenge — if you’ve been believing that everyone feels like you do but just handles it better, let go of that perspective and take pride in what you’ve achieved so far despite not having help for your panic attacks.
If you can identify a pattern of what causes these attacks, and you feel fine in between them, you can start taking steps on your own to reduce their frequency and impact on your life. You still may want to see a doctor to help identify whether you may have a psychological or physical condition that can be addressed.
If you consistently feel levels of anxiety that impact your life and well being, if you have panic attacks often enough that it’s disruptive to your life, or if you find yourself frequently worrying about your next panic attack, you need to see a mental health professional.
This article is part of the “So You Had A Panic Attack” resource guide. Go back to the SYHAPA index page
