In the face of a threat such as an assault, an accident, or a natural disaster, this type of reaction is perfectly normal and helpful for survival. At other times, the symptoms caused by a surge in adrenaline can be distressing and frightening. A person having a panic attack often is overwhelmed by a sense of impending disaster or death, which makes it impossible to think clearly. Eventually, the disorder can have other, cumulative effects, such as generalized aches and pains, muscular twitching and stiffness, depression, insomnia, nightmares and early waking, decreased libido, and abnormal feelings of tension with an accompanying inability to relax. Women may experience changes in the menstrual cycle and increased premenstrual symptoms.
Panic attacks are usually abrupt and intense.
They can occur at any time of the day or night, and can last from a few seconds up to half an hour. To the panic sufferer, it often feels as though they are much longer. A person having a panic attacks often believes that he or she is experiencing a heart attack or a stroke. Food allergies and hypoglycemia are both common among people with this disorder, and can promote panic attacks. Some attacks occur with no apparent cause.