You may have experienced moments where your heart races, your chest tightens, and a wave of panic hits without warning. Maybe it’s happened once. Maybe it has been happening often. And now you’re wondering, “Is this something more than just stress? Do I have panic anxiety disorder?”
This guide is designed to help you reflect on what you’re feeling. It’s not a diagnostic test, but a written self-assessment to help you understand common panic disorder symptoms, identify early warning signs, and explore your options for support.
What Is Panic Disorder?
Panic disorder is a mental health condition marked by recurring and unexpected panic attacks. These episodes are intense surges of fear or discomfort that often happen without a clear trigger.
While panic attacks themselves can occur in people with or without other mental health conditions, panic disorder is diagnosed when these attacks are frequent and lead to ongoing anxiety about when the next one will happen.
People with panic disorder may start avoiding certain places or situations out of fear of having another attack. Over time, this can interfere with relationships, work, and daily life, making this condition overwhelming and isolating, especially if you’re not sure what’s happening to you.
Panic Disorder Symptoms and Early Warning Signs
Panic disorder symptoms can show up in both the body and the mind. Some signs of panic disorder are unmistakable, while others may build gradually or feel disconnected from what’s really going on underneath.
Physically, you might experience a racing heartbeat, chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, or a sense of lightheadedness. Some people describe feeling nauseous, flushed, or unusually cold, while others notice tingling in their hands or feet. These sensations can come on quickly and often feel disproportionate to what’s happening around you.
Emotionally, panic disorder can trigger an intense fear of losing control, dying, or going crazy, even when there’s no real danger. You may feel detached from your surroundings or from your own body, as if you’re watching things happen from a distance. This can be especially unsettling if it happens in public or during everyday activities.
If any of this feels familiar, you’re not alone. These symptoms are common in panic disorder, and understanding them is the first step toward finding relief and support.
Panic Disorder Test: Questions to Help You Reflect
This panic disorder test is designed to help you think through what you’ve been feeling. It is not a clinical diagnosis, but it can offer insight into whether you may be experiencing symptoms of panic disorder.
As you read each question, take a moment to reflect on whether the experience feels familiar or recent. Your answers may help you decide whether it’s time to reach out for support.
1. Have you experienced sudden episodes of intense fear or physical discomfort that seemed to come out of nowhere?
Panic attacks often strike without warning, even in situations that don’t appear threatening. If you’ve felt overwhelmed by fear, anxiety, or physical symptoms without knowing why, this may be a sign of panic disorder.
2. Do you ever feel like you’re having a heart attack or struggling to breathe during these episodes?
Many people with panic disorder describe symptoms like chest pain, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, or shortness of breath. These physical sensations can be so intense that they feel life-threatening, even when no medical cause is found.
3. Have you started avoiding certain places, situations, or people out of fear of having another panic attack?
Fear of repeat episodes can lead to behavioral changes. You may begin turning down social invitations, changing your routine, or staying close to home—not because you want to, but because it feels safer.
4. Do you find yourself constantly worrying about when the next panic attack might happen?
Persistent anxiety about future attacks is one of the hallmarks of panic disorder. Even when you’re not currently experiencing symptoms, you might feel on edge or stuck in a cycle of worry.
5. Have you felt disconnected from your surroundings or from yourself during or after an episode?
This experience, known as dissociation, can make it feel like you’re watching yourself from outside your body or as if the world around you isn’t real. It’s common during panic attacks and can be deeply unsettling.
6. Do these experiences feel like they’re starting to control your life or limit your freedom?
When symptoms begin shaping your decisions, relationships, or day-to-day choices, it’s a sign that something deeper is going on. You might feel like your world is shrinking in order to avoid discomfort.
If several of these reflections resonate with you, it may be time to consider talking to a mental health professional.
Panic Attacks vs. Anxiety Attacks: What’s the Difference?
Panic attacks are sudden, intense episodes of fear that often occur without warning or a clear cause. Common panic attack symptoms include a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, or a feeling of detachment from reality. In the moment, many people ask themselves, “How do I know if I’m having a panic attack?” Because the symptoms can feel so severe, it’s easy to mistake them for a heart attack or other medical emergency.
Anxiety attacks, on the other hand, tend to build up gradually in response to ongoing stress or specific worries. The feelings can be overwhelming, but they’re usually less abrupt and not as physically intense as panic. While anxiety can linger and weigh heavily on your mind, panic comes on fast and can feel all-consuming.
Panic Disorder Therapy at Neurish Wellness
Panic disorder symptoms can feel overwhelming, but panic disorder and other anxiety disorders are highly treatable. At Neurish Wellness, we offer therapy that is personalized and trauma-informed, designed to help you understand your symptoms and regain a sense of control.
At our luxury inpatient treatment center, our team meets you where you are.
In addition to one-on-one therapy, some people find comfort in panic disorder help groups and community-based care. Sharing space with others who relate to your experience can offer connection and relief.
You’re Not Alone—Take the First Step Toward Healing
Living with panic disorder can feel isolating, but what you’re experiencing is more common than you might think. Many people struggle in silence, unsure of how to explain what they are going through or where to turn for support. If any part of this guide resonated with you, it may be time to take a closer look at what your mind and body are trying to tell you.
You don’t have to wait for things to get worse to ask for help. At Neurish Wellness, our team is here to walk with you toward healing, whether that starts with a conversation, a therapy session, or simply knowing that someone understands. Your path forward does not have to begin alone, and it can begin today.
Cole Dyar is the Executive Director & co-founder of Neurish Wellness. He has been working in the behavioral health field in operational, clinical, organizational, and managerial capacities for thirteen years. He holds a degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz in sociology and is a Licensed Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LAADC) as recognized by CCAPP. Cole holds a Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology including: Organizational Leadership and Design, a Post-Masters in General Marriage and Family Therapy, and is currently a doctoral candidate in MFT with an emphasis in Systemic Administration & Entrepreneurship.