Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is a real illness that can be treated to help a person have a healthy and full life. It is a type of anxiety disorder. With this disorder, a person can feel frequent and sudden intense fear for no reason. These frequent "bursts" of intense fear are called panic attacks. During these attacks, you can have scary physical feelings like a fast heartbeat, trouble breathing, or dizziness.

Panic attacks can happen at any time and without any warning. They can happen anywhere - in grocery stores, malls, crowds, or when traveling. A person can live in constant fear of another attack, staying away from places where past attacks have happened. This fear can take over a person's life, making her or him unable to leave their home (a condition called agorophobia). While panic attacks don't last long, they are scary, making them feel like they could last forever. This disorder can last for a few months or go on for many years, even with treatment.

It's important to know that when a person has this illness, it's not her or his fault. And, it's not something a person can just "snap out of." No one knows for sure what causes panic disorder. It most often starts when people are young, around 18 to 24 years old. It also can begin when a person is already under a lot of stress, such as after the death of a loved one or having a baby. While anyone can have this disorder, it affects women more than it does men. And, it can run in families.