Psychological Practice

Panic Disorder

by Marshall H. Lewis

Panic Disorder is a condition in which a person suffers recurring panic attacks, often without any warning that an attack is about to occur. A panic attack is a period of intense fear which often involves heart palpitations, trembling, sweating, shortness of breath, dizziness and chest pain. Many times a person having such an attack will fear they are having a heart attack and will go to the emergency room. A single, isolated panic attack, especially when under stress, is often not cause for concern. However, when attacks become more frequent, such as once per month, or when the person begins to fear having panic attacks and changing their routine behavior, then a Panic Disorder may be developing.

When this happens, the worry about having another attack actually increases the chances of having one. The person may start making more frequent visits to the emergency room, convinced that something is wrong with their heart, or start going from doctor to doctor, trying to find out what is causing the attacks. They may then begin to worry about the consequences of the panic attacks, fear losing control and fear a decline in health. Many people feel as if they are losing their mind or fear they are "going crazy." Some people may become so fearful of having a panic attack in public that they will begin to isolate themselves at home or on their property and refuse to come to town or go to the store.

Many people with Panic Disorder learn to successfully hide their illness. Some succeed in living lives in isolation. For this reason, the incidence of the disorder in the general population is not known with certainty. However, some of the most recent best estimates place the number of Americans with Panic Disorder at 13 million.

Panic Disorder can be treated both with medication and with psychotherapy. Psychotherapy generally involves learning relaxation and breathing techniques that can help the person with Panic Disorder to control this physical response. Biofeedback is also sometimes used to this end. In addition, psychotherapy can also be used to help the person deal with the long term consequences of the disorder, which may have gone for years without treatment. Many have found medication combined with psychotherapy to be effective in helping them live richer lives.

	Psychological Practice
	Panic Disorder by Marshall H. Lewis Panic Disorder is a condition in which a person suffers recurring panic attacks, often without any warning that an attack is about to occur. A panic attack is a period of intense fear which often involves heart palpitations, trembling, sweating, shortness of breath, dizziness and chest pain. Many times a person having such an attack will fear they are having a heart attack and will go to the emergency room. A single, isolated panic attack, especially when under stress, is often not cause for concern. However, when attacks become more frequent, such as once per month, or when the person begins to fear having panic attacks and changing their routine behavior, then a Panic Disorder may be developing. When this happens, the worry about having another attack actually increases the chances of having one. The person may start making more frequent visits to the emergency room, convinced that something is wrong with their heart, or start going from doctor to doctor, trying to find out what is causing the attacks. They may then begin to worry about the consequences of the panic attacks, fear losing control and fear a decline in health. Many people feel as if they are losing their mind or fear they are "going crazy." Some people may become so fearful of having a panic attack in public that they will begin to isolate themselves at home or on their property and refuse to come to town or go to the store. Many people with Panic Disorder learn to successfully hide their illness. Some succeed in living lives in isolation. For this reason, the incidence of the disorder in the general population is not known with certainty. However, some of the most recent best estimates place the number of Americans with Panic Disorder at 13 million. Panic Disorder can be treated both with medication and with psychotherapy. Psychotherapy generally involves learning relaxation and breathing techniques that can help the person with Panic Disorder to control this physical response. Biofeedback is also sometimes used to this end. In addition, psychotherapy can also be used to help the person deal with the long term consequences of the disorder, which may have gone for years without treatment. Many have found medication combined with psychotherapy to be effective in helping them live richer lives.