The first time Katrina-Jane had a panic attack, she had “no bloody idea” what was happening.
“I struggled to breathe but at the same time I was just pacing the house like a caged tiger,” she recalls.
“I wanted to go for a walk but couldn't make myself, and I felt like I had all this energy burning through me that I could use up.”
That first panic attack lasted for about half an hour, during which time Katrina-Jane “seriously thought I was going mad”.
It wasn’t until she saw her psychologist afterwards that Katrina-Jane discovered she had experienced a panic attack.
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According to Better Health Channel, up to 35 percent of the population experience a panic attack at some time in their lives.
Some, like Katrina-Jane, may feel they’re “going mad” during an attack.
Others may worry if the symptoms mean they’re having a heart attack, or another health issue.
So how can you know if your symptoms are due to a panic attack, or something else?
First off, it helps to understand a bit more about panic attacks.
As its name suggests, panic attacks are related to feelings of panic or anxiety.
The ‘fight or flight’ response is activated, which means you can have a number of other symptoms. These may include a fast heart rate, feeling short of breath, having tense or trembling muscles and a dry mouth.
So how do you know those symptoms point to a panic attack, rather than, say, a heart attack?
It can be hard to know for sure.
That said, there are certain risk factors that increase the likelihood of having a heart attack.
You’re more likely to have a heart attack as you get older; if you have a family history of them; if you smoke; have high cholesterol or blood pressure; if you have diabetes or if you are overweight, among other factors.
That doesn’t mean that you can’t have a heart attack if you’re young, fit and seemingly healthy, though; just that your risk increases based on these factors.
Symptoms of a heart attack can include pain or discomfort in your chest, which may feel like heaviness or pressure rather than a sharp stabbing pain.
You could also feel discomfort in your arm, shoulder, neck, jaw or back.
At the same time, you may feel short of breath, nauseous or light-headed.
If you think you may be having a heart attack, seek urgent medical care.
Of course, there are other reasons why you might have similar symptoms.
You could have reflux, for example, or your shortness of breath could be due to exertion, asthma or another cause.
The truth is, if you’re feeling awful and are not sure if you’re having a panic attack, now is not the time to sit there trying to work out what is happening and debate whether or not you need help.
You should see your doctor ASAP
If you think your symptoms may be life threatening, call an ambulance.
Your doctor can take a proper history to find out your symptoms, and can examine you and order tests (if necessary) to see whether your symptoms are from a panic attack or another issue.
If it turns out your symptoms were due to a panic attack, your doctor can help guide you about what to do if it happens again.
Since having her first panic attack five years ago, Katrina-Jane has been using relaxation techniques to help manage her attacks.
When she feels one coming on, she tells herself: “This feeling isn’t needed; that the feeling of fear isn’t real”.
She also takes five deep breaths.
Thankfully, these measures have worked wonders for her.
“Over the years I've learnt when it hits to just tell myself that the reaction isn't real to the circumstances and I can breathe and talk my way out of it.”