A summary of the experience of the panic attack (as seen in our research) is as follows:

Prior

• Energy felt... May experience one, or more, of the following: 'Unusual' intense flows of 'energy' throughout the body, electric current moving through the body, wave-like motion of energy moving through the body, vibration moving through the body, white hot flame through the body, rushes of energy shaking the body, intense heat or burning pain moving through the body and less predominantly, ice cold sensation through the body. Energies may be moving in one of the 6 energy movement models defined.
• Dissociation... May experience one, or more, of the following: your body feels expanded, so that you feel huge/larger than normal. Your body feels shrunk to minute proportions/smaller than usual. Your eyes are closed and you are unable to open them and your feel as if your are floating, 'witness' of what is happening to you, feel as if you are falling into a void. You, and your surroundings. You do not seem real, experience surroundings through a diffused light, fog or mist; and experience a visual sensation where stationary objects appear to move; whole body enveloped in light.
• Physical symptoms... May experience one, or more, of the following: Sensitivity to light, tunnel vision, diminished vision, tightening of throat, indigestion, burning sensations in the stomach, digestive problems, eyes burning, intolerance to noise.
• Breathing... One of the following: shallow breathing (either at a normal rate of inhalation or very rapid [2-3 breaths/sec]; normal rate/normal inhalation; or almost stopped - barely noticeable.
• Other... May experience one or more of the following: seeing of 'inner' lights, hearing of 'inner' sounds, spontaneous physical jerking.

During

Energy felt...May experience one or more of the following: hot prickly sensation moving through the body, intense heat or burning pain moving through the body, rushes of energy shaking the body, 'unusual' intense flows of 'energy' throughout the body, electric current moving through the body, vibration moving through the body.

Dissociation... May experience one or more of the following: feel as if you are falling into a void; feel as if you are pressed to ground, you and your surroundings do not seem real; experience surroundings through a diffused light, fog or mist; 'witness' of what is happening to you; "outside" of body either situated alongside, above or behind it; your eyes are closed and you are unable to open them and your feel as if your are floating.

Physical symptoms... May experience one or more of the following: missed heart beats, chest pain, hyperventilation, tightening of throat, difficulty breathing, increased pulse rate, choking sensations, nausea, sensitivity to light, tunnel vision, diminished vision, feeling faint, lightheadedness, giddiness, pins and needles, diarrhea, shaking/trembling, localized pressure, burning sensation in the stomach, abdominal pain, eyes burning, intolerance to noise, temporary paralysis, hot flashes, flushing face, cold flushes.

Breathing... One of the following: shallow breathing, rapid [2-3 breaths/sec].

Other... May experience one or more of the following: seeing of 'inner' lights, hearing of 'inner' sounds, spontaneous physical jerking.

After

Physical symptoms... May experience one or more of the following: nausea, shaking/trembling, headaches, depression, sensitivity to light, diminished vision, diarrhea, cold flushes.

Breathing... One of the following: long, slow and deep or shallow (either normal rate of inhalation or very rapid [2-3 breaths/sec]).

Continual

Energy felt... "ants crawling" sensation over the body; ice cold sensation through the body; itching sensation through the body; rippling sensation through the body; tingly sensation; creeping sensation.

Dissociation... May experience one or more of the following: 'witness' of what is happening to you; "outside" of body either situated alongside, above or behind it; you and your surroundings do not seem real; experience a visual sensation where stationary objects appear to move; you feel as if your are floating.

Physical symptoms... May experience one or more of the following: difficulty sleeping, lack of concentration, neck aches, extreme exhaustion, appetite swings, depression, abdominal pain, digestive problems, hot flashes, giddiness, feeling faint, lightheadedness, localized pressure, night sweats, shaking/trembling, headaches, lower back pain, backaches, sciatica, numbness of the hands and feet, migratory unexplainable body pains, recurrent pelvic pains, unexplainable rashes, chronic/temporary pains all over the body.

Other... May experience one or more of the following: sensory sensitivities

No one particular cause for the uncued panic attack has been found.

next: Cued Panic Attacks