plural panic attacks
Definition of panic attack
: a sudden feeling or episode of panic
specifically
: a brief episode of intense fear or dread that is of sudden onset and typically subsides within 30 minutes, usually occurs for no apparent reason but may sometimes be associated with an identifiable triggering stimulus (such as an existing phobia), and is accompanied by a sense of unreality and impending loss of control and by various debilitating physical symptoms (such as increased heart rate, chest pain, dizziness, and shortness of breath)
Those undergoing a panic attack often believe they are suffering a heart attack or some other illness. — Lillian Lee Kim Agoraphobia is a fear only of fear itself, that is, of any situation where help would be unavailable and escape difficult in case of a panic attack. — The Harvard Mental Health Letter
— compare anxiety attack
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for panic attack
The first known use of panic attack was in 1958
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