When they think of a silent panic attack, many people imagine noticeable symptoms such as shaking, sweating, crying, or hyperventilation. Given the dictionary definitions of the two words, this isn't actually surprising. However, the term itself is somewhat misleading. While some sufferers have obvious anxiety attacks, others may experience a silent panic attack. This is the case if the diagnosis is related to a panic or anxiety disorder. They show no external symptoms. Someone exhibiting this type of condition could have it in public, at home, at the office, or virtually anywhere without anyone noticing. Here are some tips and instructions that may help you in such cases.
What characterizes a silent panic attack
Mental health experts estimate that more and morePeople suffering from some kind of panic disorder. In addition, there are millions of sufferers who have another type of anxiety disorder. While such a mental disorder may draw less attention through visible symptoms, silent panic attacks are simply real, valid, and frightening to the person experiencing them. Here's a rundown of eight silent panic attack symptoms you should be aware of, especially if you have an anxiety disorder.
Experiencing tingling in the limbs and dizziness
When you have a panic attack, there is less blood in your extremities. In turn, some people feel weaker in their arms, legs, hands and feet. This decrease in blood flow can also lead to your...Feet and hands tingleor feeling a little numb, as if you had stayed in one position for too long.
Silent panic attack after depersonalization and derealization
Depersonalization is when you feel detached from your body, while derealization is when you feel disconnected from the world around you and your surroundings appear distorted. Experts in the field believe that these two sensations are very common symptoms of silent panic attacks. So if you start to feel a little out of body, that could be an indication that you're experiencing a panic attack.
Feeling unusual heart rate
During a panic attack, your heart rate might increase or feel like your heart is skipping a beat. If your heart rate is faster than normal or you experience heart palpitations, this could also be a sign of a silent panic attack. In addition, it can also be one of the first physiological symptoms you experience with any type of anxiety.
Occurrence of symptoms such as intrusive thoughts
One of the characteristic symptoms of both anxiety and panic disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder is intrusive thoughts. According to psychologists, these are thoughts that occupy your mind so deeply that you may not be able to concentrate on your life or enjoy various activities in everyday life. Intrusive thoughts are uncontrollable and often conjure up disturbing images that can frighten the person experiencing them to the point of immobility. Although people can experience such mental states without having a full-blown silent panic attack, they are often a symptom of one.
Nausea as a sign of a silent panic attack
Science has shown that there is a bilateral connection between anxiety disorders and irritable bowel syndrome. Therefore, it is probably not surprising that a person suffering from a silent panic attack would experience stomach pain or other gastrointestinal distress.
Get a headache when you panic
Another typical symptom of a silent panic attack, which can reach its peak within minutes, is a headache. Given all the physical tension and anxiety that builds up during this time, it's no surprise that a panic attack can leave your head hurting. According to researchers, research suggests that panic disorder is the anxiety disorder most commonly associated with migraines.
Recognizing a silent panic attack through the feeling of a lump
During a panic attack, you may feel like your throat is tightening. In such cases, some people experience a lumpy sensation that causes their throat to tighten. However, others may also report that this lumpy feeling prevents them from speaking. Both conditions can be frightening, but are completely normal symptoms of panic attacks.
Blurred vision
Blurred vision, floating eyes, and sensitivity to light are just a few examples of how a silent panic attack and anxiety can affect your vision. Of course, you shouldn't rule out the possibility that you might also have a vision problem. However, if you only have vision problems when these other symptoms appear, there's a chance it's caused by panic.
Being aware of the invisible, physiological symptoms that can occur during a panic attack is extremely important for people with anxiety disorders. It can even help themhelp stop panic disorder.
