8 Signs of Panic Attacks and When to Seek Professional Help in Illinois
Imagine you are standing in line at a grocery store or sitting in traffic, and suddenly, your heart starts racing! Your palms get sweaty, your knees feel weak, your arms feel heavy, you feel dizzy, and you sense that something terrible is about to happen. Or worse, you might be dying!
Many people in Illinois think they’re having a heart attack, and rush to the ER. However, it’s just a panic attack that usually ends in a few minutes. But the fear of the next one and how you felt during the last one can linger for a lifetime.
This is the silent struggle of panic disorder!
What Exactly Is a Panic Attack?
A panic attack is a sudden rush of intense fear or anxiety.
It happens when your body’s fight or flight response turns on, even though there’s no real danger around you.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 31.1% of U.S. adults have an anxiety disorder, and many of those include panic attacks.
Below are 8 symptoms of a panic attack indicating that you need professional help ASAP!
8 Signs You Might Be Dealing with Panic Disorder
Everyone feels anxious from time to time, but panic disorder is different. It involves repeated panic attacks and ongoing fear about when the next one might happen.
Here are 8 signs you shouldn’t ignore:
1. Sudden Physical Symptoms
This includes a racing heart, palpitations, chest pain, or feeling like you can’t catch your breath.
2. The Sense of Impending Doom
If you suddenly start feeling that something bad is about to happen or that the world is ending, it’s most likely a panic attack.
3. Feeling Disconnected
Most people experiencing a panic attack feel like they are detached from reality or that the world around them isn’t real.
4. Avoidance of Trigger Places
If you’ve stopped going to the mall, driving on highways, or entering crowded spaces in Illinois because you’re afraid of getting a panic attack, this is a major red flag!
5. Constant Worrying
Another symptom is spending a large portion of your day wondering what will happen next or if a panic attack will strike again.
6. Physical Exhaustion
After a panic attack, you may feel completely drained or exhausted for hours, sometimes even days.
7. Choking Sensations
You may sometimes feel like there is a lump in your throat or a knot in your chest, or that you are unable to breathe freely.
8. Trouble Sleeping
Panic attacks can make it hard for your mind and body to fully relax.
You might stay awake worrying about having another attack, struggle to fall asleep, or wake up suddenly feeling anxious or unsettled. After repeated panic attacks, your nervous system can stay on high alert, making it difficult to sleep soundly.
Panic Attack vs. Heart Attack: How to Tell?
The symptoms of a panic attack and a heart attack are quite similar. Which is why it is very common for people to call 911 during their first panic attack.
However, understanding the difference between the two can save you time and hassle:
- A heart attack often causes pain that spreads to the arms, neck, or jaw, and the symptoms may get worse with physical activity.
- A panic attack usually reaches its strongest point within about 10 minutes and then slowly starts to ease, although the anxiety and exhaustion afterward can last much longer.
According to a study published by Science Direct, almost 25% ER visits for chest pain are actually related to anxiety.
Why Is It Hard to Ask for Help?
In many communities, people are still told to calm down or push through it when it comes to anxiety.
But panic disorder is more than everyday stress!
It’s a real mental health condition that affects the nervous system, and it’s not a sign of weakness.
Many people wait a long time to get help because they feel embarrassed or think they should handle it on their own. Little do they know that panic disorder is highly treatable!
Treatment Options for Panic Attacks in Illinois
If panic attacks are happening often or stopping you from going to work, seeing friends, or living normally, self-help strategies may not be enough on their own.
That’s when professional treatment and structured support can make a real difference.
Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP)
An IOP gives you extra support a few days a week while you continue living at home.
You learn simple tools, like CBT, to manage anxiety and panic, including ways to calm your thoughts and reactions. Over time, you start to understand that panic attacks feel scary, but they are not dangerous.
Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP)
If panic attacks have become so intense that leaving home feels difficult, a PHP can provide more support during the day.
It offers a structured and safe environment to help you feel more stable, without staying overnight at a hospital.
Group Therapy
Group therapy helps you connect with people who understand what you’re going through.
Hearing someone say, “I’ve felt that too,” can make you feel less alone and remind you that you’re not crazy.
How to Deal With a Panic Attack Now?
If you start feeling anxious or panicked while reading this, try the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise.
It can help bring your focus away from fearful thoughts and back to the present moment:
- Notice 5 things you see around you
- Count 4 things you can touch
- Observe 3 things you hear
- Think of 2 things you can smell
- Acknowledge 1 thing you can taste
Get Your Peace Back with Resilience Illinois
If panic and anxiety are affecting your daily life, Resilience Illinois is here to help.
Our PHP and IOP programs provide structured support to help you feel more stable, confident, and in control again.
Stop living in fear of the next attack. Contact us today and let us help you get your peace back!
