What Is A Panic Attack?
The What Is A Panic Attack? handout provides an overview of panic attacks and their typical escalation sequence.
What Is A Panic Attack?
This What Is A Panic Attack? tool explains what happens when you have a panic attack and why they can feel so scary (even though they are not dangerous). It also highlights how catastrophic thoughts can make panic symptoms worse.
Overview
Panic attacks are single episodes of intense fear or discomfort that begin suddenly and reach a peak within minutes. The cognitive behavioral model of panic suggests that misinterpreting benign body symptoms as a threat leads to activation of the fight-or-flight system, which can in turn exacerbate the intensity of panic symptoms. This educational handout demonstrates a typical escalation sequence for panic attacks.
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