The short explanation
What you describe, a sudden surge of fear with a pounding heart, tingling, breathlessness and a feeling of dying, that peaks within minutes and then passes, fits the pattern of a panic attack. Having the heart checked first, as you did, was the right step. A normal ECG is reassuring, though only your doctor can say whether more tests are needed. Panic attacks are frightening but they are not dangerous in themselves. After one or two, many people start avoiding the place where it happened, and that avoidance can make the fear grow. Talking therapy, especially cognitive behavioural therapy, is very effective for panic, and some people are also offered medicine after assessment.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- What matters is how often the attacks come, whether you now worry constantly about the next one, and whether you are avoiding travel, crowds or being alone.
- Caffeine, energy drinks, lack of sleep, thyroid problems and some medicines can make attacks more likely, so mention these.
- Slow breathing and reminding yourself that the attack will pass can help in the moment, but they work best alongside proper support rather than instead of it.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This answer cannot rule out a physical cause or say whether you have panic disorder. A doctor who knows your history and test results needs to decide that.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Do my symptoms fit panic attacks, and are any further heart or thyroid tests needed?
- Can you refer me for cognitive behavioural therapy?
- What can I do during an attack to get through it?
- How do I stop avoiding the metro without forcing myself too fast?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Emergency — call 112 now
- Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have chest pain that spreads to the arm, jaw or back, chest pain with sweating, fainting, or symptoms that feel different from your usual attacks.
Book an appointment soon
- See a doctor within a few days if the attacks are becoming more frequent or you have started avoiding travel or work. You can also call Tele-MANAS on 14416, the free national mental-health helpline, which answers in many Indian languages.
Raise it at a routine appointment
- Book a routine appointment with a psychiatrist or psychologist to discuss therapy for panic.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Panic disorder MedlinePlus (NIH)
- Anxiety MedlinePlus (NIH)
- Generalised anxiety disorder in adults NHS
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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