Can You Pass Out From a Panic Attack?

Panic attacks can be terrifying, but do they pose any actual physical dangers? For example, can you pass out from a panic attack?

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What Happens During a Panic Attack?

Panic attacks involve the sudden onset of overwhelming fear or extreme anxiety. In addition to being sources of considerable emotional pain, panic attacks are also associated with a variety of agonizing physical symptoms.

As defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), someone who is having a panic attack will experience at least four of the following symptoms:

Racing heart rate or heart palpitations
Excessive perspiration
Trembling or shaking
Sense of being choked
Shortness of breath of feeling smothered
Chest pain
Abdominal pain or nausea
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Chills and/or hot flashes
Numbness or tingling, typically in the hands and/or feet
Depersonalization (the sense of being detached from your mind or body) or derealization (sense that reality has somehow gone askew, such as the world being suddenly drained of color)
Fear of losing control or “going crazy”
Fear that death is imminent

Panic attacks are typically brief, usually peaking within a few minutes and rarely lasting longer than 15 or 20 minutes. However, during that time, a person may be in a state of excruciating physical and psychological distress.

The list of panic attack symptoms in the previous section includes “dizziness or lightheadedness.” Sometimes, these symptoms can be precursors to loss of consciousness. Does this apply to this situation as well? Can you pass out from a panic attack?

It’s possible that you could pass out from a panic attack, but it’s unlikely that you will.

In addition to the aforementioned dizziness and lightheadedness, irregular breathing can also make you think that you’re about to pass out. If you feel as though you’re being choked or smothered, you may begin to hyperventilate, or breathe too quickly. This can exacerbate many of your other symptoms and cause you to fear that you’re about to faint.

Even though the fears and sensations you have during a panic attack are real, they don’t usually cause the problems that they’re often associated with. For example, panic-related chest pain and racing heart rate can make you fear that you’re having a heart attack – but panic attacks aren’t indicators of cardiac distress.

Similarly, altered perceptions and abnormal breathing can make you believe that you’re about to lose consciousness, but people rarely actually pass out from panic attacks.

How Should You Respond to a Panic Attack?

There’s no single, ideal way to respond to a panic attack. Factors that can influence what you do include:

Who is having the attack (you, someone you know, or a stranger)
Where you are when the attack occurs
The types of symptoms you/they are experiencing
If you/they have been through a panic attack before

If you’re having a panic attack

When you recognize the onset of panic attack symptoms, the following steps can be helpful:

Find a comfortable place to sit down or lie down. If you’re driving, find a place where you can safely stop your car, and turn off the engine.
Remind yourself that what you’re currently experiencing is temporary, and it will end. If you’ve had a panic attack before, remember that it was brief and you got through it OK.
Use the 5-4-3-2-1 technique to ground yourself. Name five things you can see, four things you can feel, three distinct sounds you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can currently taste. This can help you refocus your mind away from the distressing emotions at the core of the panic attack.
Focus on your breath. Inhale deeply while counting to five. Hold your breath for a silent count of four. Then exhale while counting to seven. Repeat this until you start to feel calmer.
Another breathing technique is called box breathing. That’s similar to the approach above, except you inhale, hold, and exhale for four seconds each. Then wait four seconds and repeat.
Call or text a friend or loved one, ideally someone that you’ve talked to about previous panic attacks (if you’ve had them before). Talking about what you’re going through or listening to the voice of someone who cares about you can be soothing.

If someone else is having a panic attack

If you are with someone who has a panic attack, here are a few suggestions that may help:

Help them get to a safe, comfortable space where they can sit or lie down.
Speak in a calm, soothing voice. Ask them how you can help them.
If you don’t know them, tell them your name and ask them what theirs is.
Do not grab them, or even touch them without getting their consent first. The only exception to this advice would be if they begin to fall and need support to stay upright and be guided to a safe spot.
Remind them that they’re going to be OK, but do NOT imply that what they’re experiencing is “not real” or “all in their mind.” The distress someone experiences during a panic attack is completely real to them.
Suggest that they practice a self-soothing or grounding activity such as the 5-4-3-2-1 approach or a breathing exercise. Guide them through the activities if they’re not familiar with them.
Remain with them until the panic attack has subsided.

Find Help for Panic Attacks in Atlanta

If you have been experiencing panic attacks, North Atlanta Behavioral Health is here to help.

Our mental health treatment center in Atlanta, GA, is a trusted source of outpatient care for adults who have been struggling with psychological concerns and co-occurring substance use disorders (addictions). We offer personalized care and comprehensive support at the partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient levels. In each program, you can expect to be cared for by dedicated professionals who are truly invested in your success.

To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.