What is panic disorder?
Fear and anxiety are normal reactions to stressful events in our lives. However, panic disorder is different. Panic disorder strikes without reason, causing sudden attacks of fear and anxiety coupled with physical symptoms such as a racing heart. When a person suffers from panic disorder, these attacks continue to happen without warning. Over time, the person develops a constant fear of the onset of another attack.
If you suffer from panic disorder, you may feel uneasy about seeking help. This reaction is common, but you should look at panic disorder as any other medical condition that can be treated. You should not feel embarrassed or alone. Today, thousands of people are receiving treatment and leading happier lives.
Who is most likely to have panic disorder?
Anyone can suffer from panic disorder, but it is most common among:
- Teenagers and people in their early 20s
- Women
How can I know if I have panic disorder?
Review these questions. If you can answer "yes" to most of them, its likely that you are suffering from panic disorder.
- Do you have sudden attacks of intense and overpowering fear without knowing why?
- Do you feel a need to run or escape to a safe place during these attacks?
- During these attacks, are you afraid that something horrible will happen to you, such as dying or having a heart attack?
- Are you always worried that you will have one of these attacks?
- Does your fear of these attacks prevent you from wanting to go places, such as the store or to a restaurant?
You also may experience these physical symptoms:
- Shortness of breath
- Increased heart rate
- Choking sensation
- Dizziness
- Sweating
- Nausea or stomachache
- Chest pain
- Tingling or numbness
- Chills or hot flashes
- Shaking or trembling
How can treatment help me?
It's important to remember that panic disorder is a treatable medical condition. According to the National Institutes of Health, treatment reduces or completely prevents panic attacks in 70 percent to 90 percent of people who have them. In most cases, treatment will:
- Stop panic attacks from happening
- Help you regain your life by allowing you to overcome your fear of having panic attacks
- Prevent panic disorder from leading to other problems, such as depression, drug and alcohol abuse and phobias. A phobia is the fear of things that are thought to trigger panic attacks, such as the fear of driving a car or leaving the house.
- Cure phobias
What should I do if I am having panic attacks?
Contact your health care provider or a mental health care specialist. Your health care provider may work with a mental health care specialist to evaluate your condition and determine the proper treatment. Panic disorder can be difficult for health care providers to recognize, so it's important that you describe all of your emotional and physical symptoms.
Physical symptoms can be very strong, so much so that many people with panic disorder are often sure that they have a physical illness, such as a heart condition. You should undergo a complete physical exam to determine if there is a physical cause for your symptoms.
How is panic disorder treated?
- With psychotherapy (most often a type of counseling called "cognitive behavioral therapy")
- With medicine
- Both psychotherapy and medicine.
Treatments vary with each person. If medicine is ordered, your health care provider should start you on a low dose of medicine to see how you respond and slowly increase the dose if needed.
The length of treatment varies with each person. Cognitive behavioral therapy takes at least 2 to 3 months. Treatment with medicine usually continues for 6 to 12 months.
Some people will respond well to treatment only to experience panic attacks later in life. If your panic attacks begin again after treatment has stopped, additional treatment may still help you to control and reduce panic attacks.
What causes panic disorder?
Although the cause of panic disorder is not fully understood, studies have shown that the following factors may lead to panic disorder:
- Family history*
- Biological problems in parts of the brain and nervous system
- Substance abuse
- Overwhelming stress
*Panic disorder is more likely to occur if a family member has a phobia or anxiety disorder.
Where can I learn more?
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill: 800.950.6264
National Mental Health Association: 800.969.6642
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 2/3/2005…#4451
