To sign 'panic attack', start with both hands in fists in front of your torso, with one hand positioned slightly higher than the other. Suddenly open both hands into '5' handshapes with your fingers spread wide, moving them quickly toward the center of your chest with your palms facing inward. A strong facial expression is essential for this sign; make sure to show a look of sudden fear, shock, or intense distress to accurately convey the feeling of a panic attack.
Point to yourself, sign YESTERDAY, and then perform the sign for PANIC ATTACK with a distressed facial expression.
Sign BREATHE DEEP, then sign HELP, and finish with PANIC ATTACK to show how breathing alleviates the sudden fear.
Point to the person, sign PANIC ATTACK, and make sure to raise your eyebrows and lean forward slightly to indicate you are asking a yes/no question.
Point to yourself, sign YESTERDAY, and then perform the sign for PANIC ATTACK with a distressed facial expression.
Sign BREATHE DEEP, then sign HELP, and finish with PANIC ATTACK to show how breathing alleviates the sudden fear.
Point to the person, sign PANIC ATTACK, and make sure to raise your eyebrows and lean forward slightly to indicate you are asking a yes/no question.
They use the same foundational hand movements, but 'panic attack' requires a much more intense, sudden movement and an exaggerated facial expression of severe distress or shock to distinguish it from simply being scared.
No, it doesn't strictly matter which hand is placed higher. Typically, your dominant hand might naturally rest a bit higher, but as long as both hands open suddenly toward the chest, the meaning is clear.
No, this sign implies a sudden, severe level of fear or a literal panic attack. For general anxiety or feeling nervous, there are different signs (like the sign for NERVOUS) that don't carry the same level of sudden intensity.
