Panic Attacks & Panic Disorder

Panic attacks are brief episodes of extreme fear. They can be mistaken for heart attacks or strokes, but they are psychological rather than physical. They tend to come on suddenly and usually peak within ten minutes, with most ending within twenty to thirty minutes.

Some symptoms include:

• Chills
• Nausea
• Sweating
• Chest pain
• Palpitations
• Shaking
• A feeling of suffocation

Sometimes panic attacks are isolated events. But if a person has had at least two attacks and lives in fear of the next one, they may have panic disorder. An attack can happen with no obvious cause, and people with panic disorder may develop phobias tied to whatever they associate with the panic, such as open spaces or large crowds.

Panic disorder is classified as an anxiety disorder, and like other forms of anxiety it responds well to a combination of therapy, healthy lifestyle changes, and, where appropriate, medical care. Breathing exercises, regular movement, and avoiding stimulants all help.