After our blog yesterday about panic attacks- here is a checklist to see if you suffer from panic attacks.
Are you troubled by the following?
Yes No
Repeated or unexpected “attacks” during which you suddenly are overcome by intense fear or discomfort for no apparent reason
If yes, during an attack did you experience any of these symptoms?
Yes No
Pounding heart
Yes No
Sweating
Yes No
Trembling or shaking
Yes No
Shortness of breath
Yes No
Choking
Yes No
Chest pain
Yes No
Nausea or abdominal discomfort
Yes No
"Jelly" legs
Yes No
Dizziness
Yes No
Fear of losing control or "going crazy"
Yes No
Fear of dying
Yes No
Numbness or tingling sensations
Yes No
Chills or hot flushes
As a result of these attacks, have you…
Yes No
experienced a fear of places or situations where getting help or escape might be difficult, such as in a crowd or on a bridge?
Yes No
felt unable to travel without a companion?
For at least one month following an attack, have you…
Yes No
felt persistent concern about having another one?
Yes No
worried about having a heart attack or “going crazy”?
Yes No
changed your behavior to accommodate the attack?
Having more than one illness at the same time can make it difficult to diagnose and treat the different conditions. Depression and substance abuse are among the conditions that occasionally complicate panic disorder.
Yes No
Have you experienced changes in sleeping or eating habits?
More days than not, do you feel…
Yes No
sad or depressed?
Yes No
disinterested in life?
Yes No
worthless or guilty?
During the last year, has the use of alcohol or drugs...
Yes No
resulted in your failure to fulfill responsibilities with work, school, or family?
Yes No
placed you in a dangerous situation, such as driving a car under the influence?
Yes No
gotten you arrested?
Yes No
continued despite causing problems for you or your loved ones?
Reference:
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Association, 1994.