Panic Attacks
Evidence-Based Information
Based on scientific research
Not a Substitute for
Professional Care
If you are experiencing severe distress or thoughts of self-harm, seek immediate professional support.
✿ Signs and Symptoms
Emotional Signs
- •Fear of losing control or 'going crazy'
- •Fear of dying (often mistaken for a heart attack)
- •Derealization (feeling like the world isn't real)
- •Depersonalization (feeling detached from your body)
- •Sense of impending doom
Physical Signs
- •Heart palpitations or racing heart
- •Shortness of breath or hyperventilation
- •Trembling or shaking
- •Nausea or abdominal cramping
- •Numbness or tingling in extremities
Behavioural Signs
- •Fleeing the situation or room immediately
- •Pacing frantically
- •Calling an ambulance or going to the ER
- •Avoiding the location where the attack happened
- •Clutching the chest or throat
✿ Root Causes
Root Causes & Triggers
Adrenaline Surge
The amygdala misinterprets a benign physical sensation or thought as a mortal threat, triggering the fight-or-flight response.
Chronic Stress Build-up
Panic attacks often occur seemingly out of nowhere, months after a period of intense chronic stress has ended.
Hyperventilation Loop
Breathing too quickly changes blood CO2 levels, causing dizziness and tingling, which the brain misinterprets as danger, causing more panic.
Islamic Perspective
"Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest. (Quran 13:28)"
Reflection & Clinical Context
Physical symptoms of intense sudden fear were recognized and treated with somatic and spiritual interventions. Practices such as deep breathing (often tied to reciting Dhikr), changing physical posture, and splashing cold water on the face (Wudu) directly mirror modern physiological treatments for panic attacks by activating the vagus nerve and parasympathetic nervous system.
Written by NAFSIO Editorial Team
Medically Reviewed by NAFSIO Team
NAFSIO provides evidence-based mental health education, self-help resources, and support pathways for students and young adults in Pakistan.
Request Guidance or Suggest a Topic
Struggling with a specific issue? Need clinical guidance on a topic we haven't covered yet? Share your details securely, and our team will review it.
Related Topics
Your Mental Health Matters
Mental health struggles are common and treatable. You do not have to go through them alone. Take the first step towards feeling better today.