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What Are The Symptoms When One Experiences An Adrenaline Rush And A Panic Attack?

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Posted on Mon, 13 Apr 2015
Question: As I do not believe I have experienced a normal "adrenaline rush".

Can you tell me, when a person experiences an "adrenaline rush", and when a person experiences a panic attack, are they similar symptoms?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
both are same.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HealthcareMagic.

Panic attacks usually involve the upsurge of adrenaline in the body.
So the symptoms of panic attack are similar.

The common symptoms are:
increased heart rate (tachycardia)
rapid breathing(hyperventilation)
shortness of breath
sweating
tingling and numbness
dizziness and lightheadedness.

Adrenaline is a 'fight and flight hormone' of the body. As the person experiences any kind of stress or fear, there is upsurge in adrenaline levels in the body, known as 'adrenaline rush' in simple terms.

Panic attack is a more of technical term. This can occur in response to a stimulus or spontaneously. But there is adrenaline upsurge in the body during a panic attack.

In short, both the terms are biologically same. The difference is just of technical naming.

Hope this helps.

Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (8 hours later)
That was brilliant, thank you!

However, people who experience an "adrenaline rush", would psychologically "enjoy the rush"?....people who experience a "panic attack"....do not enjoy it?

So perhaps changing how one relates to a panic attack?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
biological mechanism same for both.

Detailed Answer:
You are welcome.

I will explain my point with an example:

Suppose there is a person who enjoys fast biking and there is another one who fears fast biking.

When both are driving fast on a bike, they both will experience adrenaline upsurge in the body.

But the person who fears fast biking will enjoy his adrenaline upsurge as he is excited. And the other will feel fearful and would not enjoy the effects of adrenaline rush.

Whereaa, panic attack is unkown fear of something bad going to happen. This will also cause adrenaline upsurge.

So, in all the above cases, biologically there is adrenaline upsurge. But there is difference in perception of its effects.

Panic attack is a technical medical term, whereas adrenaline rush is a commonly used analogy for excitement.

Hope this answers your query satisfactorily.

Feel free to discuss further.

Kindly close the discussion if you have no more queries and give your valuable feedback.

Take care.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (22 hours later)
That was so brillantly explained......Thankyou!

I would say I have never experienced an "exciting" upsurge of adrenaline.

I am continually working on looking at my thoughts which are causing "the" panic attacks very closely.

Is there a term which would describe, turning self awareness, away from the self..which may increase anxiety/depression/

e.g. I feel tired ( I feel slightly fatigued) at work.....other people feel tired (slightly fatigued) also at work.

My body shakes to relieve tension.....people with epilepsy also have shaking spasms.

We ARE what we think!

But that was very educational!!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
depersonalisation, most closely!

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the appreciation :)

Have you found what thoughts provoke 'the panic attacks' ? Are you able to modify them?

Turning self awareness..away from self which may cause anxiety..
In my knowledge, there no single term for that. But the most close terminology for this should be 'depersonalization'. It consists of a feeling of watching oneself act, while having no control over a situation.

You are right.everyone gets tired at work..but the point is whether one starts his day feeling fatigued or one feel fatigued after some work at the end of the day!

Epilepsy may have a whole bunch of symptoms apart from shakes.

Hope this helps.

Its nice to discuss these issues with you.

Hope to hear from you again with some more health-issues to discuss.
Thanks again for the appreciation.

Take care.

Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (9 hours later)
Some Dr's are very helpful and educational.....others.........my wife "yelling" at me at times seems to bring the panic attacks on very quickly!!!!

I think it still has to do you with my inner child not being loved????

I do not know how to stop myself from reactioning (that works)...I try and that to myself. IT IS HER STUFF!! But that does not seem to work!

I hate any sort of arguments.....

We are both senstive people. I sense her mood very easily.

My wife grew up with yelling parents....and that is all she knows...

All I've known is anxiety.......I had a hard time growing up.

I "shake" to relieve tension in my body (I always have)

I realise shaking is just one symptom to epilepsy.

I thought it was "depersonalisation".
and of course, my wife says "I dont listen"....and probably 70%-80% of the time I do not, because the anxiety is high!

Believe me, I TRY and listen!

And I know were not the only couple who "yell" at each other or have arguments.

We are about to go back to marriage counselling, as we want to help our marriage.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
do not indulge in arguments.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again.

Dear I can understand that you are facing some difficulties in your married life.

Your wife's yelling at you cause anxiety to the level of panic attack.

I understand this can be real distressing. The nature of stress can be anything. It varies from person to person. This leads to high anxiety in you. Completely understandable...when panic attacks can even occur without stress.

You feel your inner child has not been loved.
This is more or less similar to freudian theory of anxiety disorders. He says that there are some hidden unconscious conflicts in a person which lead to anxiety.
This justifies your feelings.

Even though the modern science believes against it, but...no science is above the person's feelings.

Its good that you donot indulge into an argument. Anger provokes anger.
The time when you feel anxious, just drink a glass of cold water and take slow and deep breaths. You will be fine in seconds.

Other than this every person can derive his own ways of dealing with anxiety. You shake to relieve tension. Thats completely ok. Donot worry about epilepsy.

Your wife has been brought up in a disruptive home environment. The yelling and all that stuff has become her nature. She might be helpless in controlling in behavior.

Since when you both are facing these problems?

I think the decision to go to a marriage counsellor is good and correct, before its too late.

Please do let me know if I can help you in any ways for that.

And do not entangle yourself in technical terms. Keep your mind relaxed :)

You are welcome for further queries and discussion

Take care.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (7 hours later)
Why would I have an upsurge of adrenaline, or minor pain attack when my wife raises her voice at me/yells at me?

Out of balance fight or flight?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
there is a sequence of events in which our body responds.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again.

I will explain you how the whole sequence of event goes:

First, you perceive the stimulus (that wife is yelling at you).

Second, your mind creates a cognitive label for the stimulus (this yelling distresses me). This cognitive labeling can be at conscious or unconscious level.

Third, this generates emotions (may be anger, fear, irritation..this may vary from time to time).

Fourth, this leads to autonomic nervous stimulation and thus physiological responses (anxiety and panic in you).

This is how our body and brain responds. We might no be aware of the sequence of events consciously.

Hope this answers your query.

Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (11 hours later)
That was those beautifully and PERFECTLY explained, thank you!!

Is it mostly likely to be at a conscious or unconscious level?

For me: It distresses me....fear definitely, and irritation and then anger.

Can I grab those thoughts, slow them down, then stop them?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
mindfulness meditation.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again :)

They mostly occur at unconscious level.
Or, its more like, we are unable to understand what thought and what emotion has come first and what disturbs us the most.

I will tell you the way to manage those thoughts:

Its a simple meditation technique-mindfulness meditation.

Sit with eyes closed, cross-legged on a cushion or a chair, with the back straight.
Put your attention on the awareness of the breath as it goes in and out the nostrils.
As thoughts come up, keep your focus on the breathing process.
You will passively notice your mind has wandered, but be accepting, non-judgmental way.
As you practice regularly, it will become easier to keep the attention focused on breathing.
With practice, awareness of the breath can be extended into mindful awareness of thoughts, feelings, and actions.

When your mind becomes aware of thoughts and its associated feeling and actions, you can modify them with practice. You will also come to know what thoughts (on your part) cause distress to you, so that you can try to control them.

A local psychologist can help you to do this better.

Hope this helps.

Happy to discuss all these issues with you. Will be glad to answer more questions.

Take care.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (35 minutes later)
you have been incredibly helpful......

Unconcious level! Oh No!

I am already practicing mindful meditation...so far, its not really doing a great deal. Will continue...
This is my last example:

I walk down the street, and a neighbour says "hello to me", or I say "Hello" to them, I have an instant "Very minor panic attack"....Why?

Same reason as my wife yelling at me...

I am perceiving fear, and reasons 1) 2) and 3) again?

perceive the stimulus ,cognitive label for the stimulus ,Third, this generates emotions (may be anger, fear, irritation..this may vary from time to time).

Fourth, this leads to autonomic nervous stimulation and thus physiological responses (anxiety and panic in you).

doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
distorted cognitive schemas; CBT

Detailed Answer:
You are welcome:)

The same cycle repeats everytime.

Sometimes panic attack is generated by even minor stimulus or without any stimulus.

This is mostly due to our distorted cognitive schemas. At times we perceive even minor stimuli as threatening and our mind gets conditioned to respond in such way.

You should continue with mindfulness meditation. This will keep you calm and focused.
I think cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) from a trained psychologist/psychiatrist should also help you.

Hope i have answered your queries satisfactorily.

Kindly close the discussion if you have no more queries and give your valuable feedback.

Take care.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (18 hours later)
I exercise a lot!

You have been extremely helpful.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
happy to help.

Detailed Answer:
Continue with your exercise schedule.

Kindly close the discussion if you are satisfied with the responses.

Hoping for a positive feedback from you.

Take care.
Thanks.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Shubham Mehta

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 2145 Questions

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What Are The Symptoms When One Experiences An Adrenaline Rush And A Panic Attack?

Brief Answer: both are same. Detailed Answer: Hello Welcome to HealthcareMagic. Panic attacks usually involve the upsurge of adrenaline in the body. So the symptoms of panic attack are similar. The common symptoms are: increased heart rate (tachycardia) rapid breathing(hyperventilation) shortness of breath sweating tingling and numbness dizziness and lightheadedness. Adrenaline is a 'fight and flight hormone' of the body. As the person experiences any kind of stress or fear, there is upsurge in adrenaline levels in the body, known as 'adrenaline rush' in simple terms. Panic attack is a more of technical term. This can occur in response to a stimulus or spontaneously. But there is adrenaline upsurge in the body during a panic attack. In short, both the terms are biologically same. The difference is just of technical naming. Hope this helps. Thanks.