This is anxiety with a jump scare. Panic does not wait for a reason or a convenient moment. Your body suddenly decides that something is very wrong, even if you are standing in line or
sitting on the couch. Your heart races, your breathing feels off, and your brain starts scanning for danger that is not actually there. Logic usually arrives late to the party. The hardest part is often not the panic attack itself, but the fear of the next one. You might start avoiding places or situations where you felt it before, just in case. From the outside it can look like nothing happened. On the inside it feels like everything did. You are not weak for reacting this way. Your nervous system is just very committed to its job.

This diagnosis is used when a person experiences recurrent, unexpected panic attacks followed by ongoing worry about having more attacks or changes in behavior to avoid them. Symptoms can include heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, and a fear of losing control. Treatment often focuses on helping the body relearn that these sensations are not dangerous. A supportive clinician will remind you that panic feels catastrophic but is not, even if your body insists on acting like it absolutely is.