Panic Disorders

A panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder that causes terror stricken paralysis in an otherwise quite normal person. The symptoms of panic disorders can occur at any time and cannot be predicted or stopped once they begin.

People with panic disorders have panic attacks during which their breathing quickens, they feel sweaty, faith, dizzy and scared. Some people feel sick to their stomachs, or feel as though they are drifting away from reality. Others feel as though they are going out of control or they are about to die but cannot do anything about it.

Most panic disorders reach their worst point at about ten minutes but often the symptoms and the aftermath can last much longer. Depending upon where a panic attack takes place a person may develop new fears associated with the location and situation of their panic attacks. These fears can mount and multiply making it almost impossible for a person to live at all.

Just like many other diseases such as cancer and diabetes, researchers believe anxiety disorders can be inherited or the risk for developing these disorders. For some people, they do not even realize that they are suffering from a treatable disorder until they go to emergency care for a severe panic attack. Depression often accompanies panic disorders because a person may be so unhappy and anxious that they become depressed about the state of his/her life.

Although panic attacks and depression can both be painful and hard to manage there is treatment to which these disorders have responded to significantly well. Panic disorders are the most treatable of the anxiety disorders because they respond well to prescribed medications and psychotherapy.

People who have treated their panic disorders also engage in support groups where they can help others who are still suffered from anxiety's negative effects. With proper treatment, maintenance and regular visits with a specialist, people with panic disorders can live normal, happy lives that are relatively stress free.