Panic Disorder

The essential feature of Panic Disorder is the occurrence of panic attacks.

A panic attack is described as a sudden onset of intense fear and discomfort in which at least four of the following panic disorder symptoms developed abruptly and reached a peak within 10 minutes:

• Palpitations, pounding heart,
• Sweating;
• trembling;
• sensations of shortness of breath or smothering;
• feeling of choking;
• chest pain / discomfort
• nausea or abdominal distress
• feeling dizzy, unsteady, light-headed, or faint
• derealisation (feelings of unreality) or depersonalisation (being detached from oneself)
• fear of losing control or going crazy
• fear of dying
• paresthesias (Numbness or tingling sensations)
• chills or hot flushes

Common thoughts during a panic attack are:
I am going to have a heart attack
I will collapse or faint
I will not be able to breathe, I will suffocate
I will lose control of my bladder and / bowels
I will choke
I will be sick
I will lose control, go crazy
I will make a fool of myself.

Common safety behaviours include escape and avoidance of situations likely to trigger panic reactions or attacks.

Panic attacks are commonly attached to other phobic anxiety disorders such as agoraphobia, social phobia, claustrophobia and specific phobia. In panic disorder the person must experience recurrent panic attacks, some of which must come on unexpectedly - not triggered by entering a feared situation.

Panic attacks are common and they are not a sign of serious mental illness. It is suggested that as many as one in ten of the general population may have at least one panic attack in their life time.

Many people may experience panic attacks for a short while only whilst others may suffer longer term problems with panic. Unfortunately many people wait years before seeking professional help and some never seek help at all for fear of prejudice.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) treatment has been recommended as the panic disorder and anger management treatment of choice for this condition. The aim of CBT is to break the vicious circle linking unhelpful negative thoughts with feelings, emotions and behaviours and helping the client to challenge and modify their catastrophic thoughts and beliefs and so change their unhelpful behaviours.