WHAT is a panic attack? Simply put, it is a feeling of sudden and intense anxiety. Panic attacks usually have physical symptoms. These can include shaking, feeling disorientated, a feeling of nausea, rapid and irregular heartbeats. You may also experience symptoms such as dry mouth, breathlessness, sweating and dizziness.

The symptoms of a panic attack are not dangerous but they can be very frightening. They can make you think that something catastrophic is just about to happen. They can sometimes feel as though you are having a heart attack, or that you are going to collapse or even die. Most panic attacks last somewhere from five minutes to half an hour.