Panic can arrive in the middle of an ordinary moment. You might be riding the subway, sitting at your desk, or lying in bed when your heart suddenly begins to race. Your chest tightens, your breathing changes, and a wave of fear comes over you. For a moment, your body feels unfamiliar, and you may wonder whether something is wrong.

Sometimes, a panic attack seems to come out of nowhere. Other times, it follows a stressful day, a difficult period in your life, or years of carrying more than you realize. You may have been managing responsibilities, navigating relationships, or pushing through uncertainty for so long that you have little time to notice how much it is affecting you.