[AquaGuy]

I have been having what I call panic attacks lately. I know what a panic attack is, I have had them before because I have a phobia of blood, but not for years and years, and the more I had them the shorter they lasted, so that, when I felt one coming on (the racing heart, the tight chest, etc) I could stop it in its tracks before it became a proper panic attack.

So, is it possible to have panic attacks that last for about 30-60 seconds? I begin to hyperventilate, after my heart rate speeds up, but quickly focus on my breath and in less than 60 seconds I am calm again...

The problem is, psychologists say panic attacks last between 5-20 minutes, and up to an hour in extreme cases, but nothing about 40-60 seconds.

Thanks. Peace.

[Emotionally Dead]

I have had plenty of panic attacks that lasted only a few seconds. In fact, most of mine do. They are real, but are triggered by our mind. Our mind is so complex that we can make ourselves believe almost anything. We can, however, learn coping methods and ways to calm ourselves down. I have started doing pretty good at being able to nip my panic attacks in the bud, but I still get them and sometimes just out of nowhere and completely randomly. The best thing to do is tell yourself that it's okay and you aren't dying. I do weird things when I have panic attacks, like run out of the room I am in or look at my phone. It helps me for some reason.

When therapists say that panic attacks last 5-20 minutes, that's probably on average or it could just mean the after-effects. Your heart rate and breathing can take some time to get back to normal. But panic attacks and anxiety can just be so random and complicated that I would say it could last any amount of time.

Yeah most of my panic attacks last a very short time (maybe about 30 seconds) but it feels like forever

One of two things generally happens to me during a panic attack:

Several times I have been rushed to the hospital with symptoms of a heart attack.

Other times I actually get so scared I black out - usually for minutes at a go. This has been extremely humiliating.

Common to both reactions is the certainty I am about to die.

[Mountaindewed]

I think I’m getting panic attacks in my sleep. It feels like they last for hours. But I doubt they last that long.

I’m weird though. During the day when I start to panic I tell myself “don’t panic” and it seems to work alright. At least for now.

[ken9018]

most of mine last about a few minutes, but the lingering affects are the worst as they can last hours to days...