A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense psychological distress that triggers a powerful physical response in the body. These episodes involve intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms like a racing heart, shortness of breath, and sweating. Because these symptoms mirror those of serious medical conditions, the immediate reaction is often to seek help, prompting the question of whether calling emergency services is appropriate. This article offers guidance on when to treat a panic attack as a medical emergency and outlines resources for managing these frightening events.
When a Panic Attack Becomes a Medical Emergency
The core difficulty in deciding whether to call 911 lies in the overlap of symptoms between a panic attack and a life-threatening event like a heart attack. Both can cause chest pain, a pounding heart, dizziness, and shortness of breath, leading to understandable confusion. Doctors advise that if you are uncertain about the cause of your symptoms, you should seek emergency medical evaluation.
You should call 911 if the chest pain is new, severe, and feels like a crushing pressure or tightness that lasts more than a few minutes and does not subside with rest. Unlike the sharp, stabbing, or localized pain sometimes associated with panic, heart attack pain often radiates to the jaw, neck, shoulders, or arms, particularly the left side. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience symptoms related to stroke, such as sudden confusion, slurred speech, or weakness on one side of the body.
Calling 911 is also appropriate if you lose consciousness, experience profound difficulty breathing that cannot be managed with breathing techniques, or if this is the first time you have experienced such symptoms. If you have no prior history of panic attacks and cannot attribute the symptoms to anxiety, the risk of a true medical emergency is too high to ignore. Emergency medical services (EMS) personnel are trained to rule out the most dangerous possibilities first, prioritizing your physical safety.
What Happens When You Call 911
Once you decide to call 911, the dispatcher’s primary role is to quickly determine if there is an immediate, life-threatening situation. Dispatchers follow a strict protocol, asking a series of questions to gather specific details, even as the ambulance is being dispatched. It is helpful to state clearly that you suspect a panic attack but are calling because you are worried about a specific symptom, such as the intensity of the chest pain.
The dispatcher will ask about the exact location, whether the person is conscious and breathing, and a description of the symptoms. When EMS arrives, their job is not to diagnose a mental health condition but to assess and mitigate the symptoms presented. They will typically perform a thorough assessment, including a full set of vital signs and possibly a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), to rule out a cardiac event.
Even if the assessment suggests a panic attack, EMS will treat the patient’s complaints seriously and may offer to transport them to the emergency room for further testing. Receiving an on-site medical clearance is a common outcome of calling 911 with severe physical symptoms. The response will be slower than a major trauma call, but the priority is still to ensure that a serious medical issue is not missed.
Immediate Non-Emergency Resources
When panic attack symptoms are severe but do not warrant a 911 call, other professional resources are available. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a national, easy-to-remember number for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress. This lifeline provides free, confidential support 24/7 through call, text, or chat, connecting individuals to trained crisis counselors.
The 988 Lifeline serves as a universal entry point for support, including emotional distress, thoughts of suicide, or substance use concerns. This service offers an alternative to emergency services for de-escalation and connection to community resources. Contacting a primary care physician’s office or a mental health provider’s on-call number is another option if you have an established care team. These professionals can provide guidance based on your history and help determine the next appropriate step.
Techniques for Stabilizing a Panic Attack
Specific self-regulation methods can help manage the intense physical sensations of a panic attack while waiting for professional help. One technique is controlled breathing, which activates the parasympathetic nervous system—the body’s natural mechanism for slowing the heart rate and promoting calm. The 4-7-8 method involves inhaling quietly through the nose for a count of four, holding the breath for seven counts, and exhaling forcefully through the mouth with a “whoosh” sound for eight counts.
This rhythmic breathing pattern forces the mind to focus on the count rather than anxious thoughts, helping to reduce the fight-or-flight response. The 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique shifts focus from internal distress to the external environment. This method instructs the individual to identify:
- Five things they can see.
- Four things they can touch.
- Three things they can hear.
- Two things they can smell.
- One thing they can taste.
Engaging the five senses helps anchor the individual in the present moment, interrupting the cycle of escalating fear. Finding a safe, quiet space and focusing on the texture of clothing or the firmness of the ground are simple acts that can supplement the grounding process. Consistently practicing these techniques can reduce the severity of symptoms and help regain a sense of control during an episode.