The Three Types
Of Panic Attacks
Uncued
(Spontaneous) Panic Attacks
 An uncued panic attack occurs ‘out of the blue’.
There is no perceived warning. This type of panic attack can even happen when a
person is relaxed or sleeping. Some research shows those with a a natural
ability to enter a trance state experience this type of panic attack.
Other research suggests a nocturnal
panic attack occurs 'during the transition from stage two to stage three sleep'
(Uhde 1994). Symptoms include feelings of being ‘out of the body’ (depersonalisation),
a sense that you
or your surroundings are not real (derealisation) and electric shop sensations. When these experiences
happen outside a cultural or spiritual practice intended to induce such states
the person panics, triggering the Fight or Flight Response. Dissociation is a common feature in
Panic
Disorder.
Cued
(Specific) Panic Attacks
Unlike an uncued panic attack, a cued panic
attack is a set of anxiety symptoms that relate to, and is triggered by,
specific situations or places. This type of panic attack is a component of
Social Anxiety Disorder,
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
Situational,
Predisposed Panic Attacks
While some people might be predisposed to having
a panic attack in certain situations or places, they may or may not always have an attack. Those who have uncued
panic attacks, or those
experiencing cued specific attacks can also go on to develop situational, predisposed panic attacks.
Please see the
Anxiety page for a list of
common panic attack symptoms.
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