What does a panic attack feel like?

If you have to ask that question, then you've luckily never experienced one. I can't speak from experience about them either, but a close relative of mine has felt panic attacks in the past, and he's described them to me this way:

"Your heart can start pumping. You get palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pains. You feel restless. You start pacing. You have a feeling of fear and dread, with a sick, metallic taste in your mouth. You feel like vomiting. You're sweating - you can go back and forth from feeling hot to cold. You feel like you're going to die. Your thoughts  - negative thoughts - are racing. You're unable to control it, and have immense relief when it's over."

Sounds horrific, doesn't it? It's one of those mental health conditions that many people struggle to understand - including those of us who are prone to suffering from them.   Now, a new viral video aims to give people some general guidance about dealing with panic attacks, no matter where you might be when they strike. It's created by Barry McDonagh, who has published two books on the subject, and this video is to go along with the release of his most recent work entitled, Dare: The New Way To Break Free From Anxiety And Panic Attacks. The video was uploaded to Facebook just over a week ago, and has since been shared over 12,000 times.   Something like this should never be the only course of treatment considered, but as several of the commenters on Facebook say, "it's worth a try next time". You can watch the video below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApkfLMUIZL0 Meanwhile, the HSE's website has a dedicated section offering help and advice for panic disorders.