What is panic disorder?

Answer 1

characterized by chronic, repeated, and unexpected panic attacks - bouts of overwhelming fear of being in danger when there is no specific cause for the fear. In-between panic attacks, persons with panic disorder worry excessively about when and where the next attack may occur.

an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent panic (anxiety) attacks, episodes of intense apprehension, fear, or terror associated with somatic symptoms such as dyspnea, palpitations, dizziness, vertigo, faintness, or shakiness and with psychological symptoms such as feelings of unreality (depersonalization or derealization) or fears of dying, going crazy, or losing control; there is usually chronic nervousness and tension between attacks.

Answer 2

I'm not going to go into the whole scientific language here but a panic disorder is when someone has a lot of panic attacks and gets anxious more than other people would. Being anxious can also set off a panic attack.
People with a panic disorder generally have a lot of fears and sometimes there is an underlying problem that makes a person develop this disorder, such as a trauma, bad experience or other negative things. Some people just develop this for no reason at all. It can be treated with medication and therapy.

Answer 3

Panic disorder is a real illness. It can be treated with medicine or therapy.

If you have panic disorder, you feel suddenly terrified for no reason. These frequent bursts of terror are called panic attacks. During a panic attack, you also have scary physical feelings like a fast heartbeat, trouble breathing, or dizziness.

Panic attacks can happen at any time and any place without warning. They often happen in grocery stores, malls, crowds, or while traveling.

You may live in constant fear of another attack and may stay away from places where you have had an attack. For some people, fear takes over their lives and they are unable to leave their homes.

Panic attacks don't last long, but they are so scary they feel like they go on forever.

It usually starts when people are young adults, around 18 to 24 years old. Sometimes it starts when a person is under a lot of stress, for example after the death of a loved one or after having a baby.

Anyone can have panic disorder, but more women than men have the illness. It sometimes runs in families.

Panic disorder can last for a few months or for many years.

Continued..... http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/nimhpanic.cfm

Or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_attack

Answer 4

Panic disorder, or anxiety reaction is a disorder in which people feel sudden overwhelming fear which causes their heart to race, sweating, shaking, and fear of being crazy. Actually, anxiety reaction can happen to anyone at any time of stress.

The symptoms may vary from person to person. Usually counseling and short-term medications take care of the disorder. If a person has a specific fear, that can be addressed and slowly overcome. Usually though, the disorder is a more generalized fear; and removal of and avoidance of stressors helps.

All caffeine drinks should be stopped. Caffeine makes panic disorder much worse.

Answer 5

You need to understand the mechanics of this. I had them and got cured thru homeopathic remedies. But I also had a therapist who was a specialist in this and got educated. the key is usually in the very first panic attack. Which sounds in your case that it came from the arm tingling which scared you. Agoraphobia is a misnomer in that people who get panic attacks then get afraid of panic attacks - so then you don't want to go out ( agoraphobia) what if??? I have another one. The body records all the senses very strong with a panic attack and those memories are coded differently- they store up a lot around the amygdala- a peanut size part of the brain which is the emotional brain and the controller of fight or flight takeover. So you get "wired" up so to speak, so that similar sounds, feelings etc go off on automatic- the blood flow to the front brain is reduced and you lose control while adrenaline floods your body. This is all meant to keep you alive. Weakness in the arm and tingling are nerve issues which can be generated from tight neck nerves- which can be from stress, sleeping wrong. having repetitive motion of the neck looking down at the keyboard ( wrong height) reading in bed and so on. It seems that somehow this perhaps scared you enough to think some quick thought- like I might be dying or whatever- and then the panic attack goes off to protect you. So now this tingling is recorded in you as a threat and will set them off. You have to understand and tell yourself over and over- tingling is not a problem- it will let you stay in the front brain and not have a full on attack. Gradually you won't even have anxiety.Go to get a shiatsu or acupressure massage- see the mayo clinic on these. They work your spine- you wear clothes. They boost the immune system up - get rid of blocks, tension and get you very strongly back in the body- they will unkink the neck arm thing and it may only take one session. ( I have sent many relatives to the shiatsu for tingling, spine pain, all nerve stuff and it is the fastest, cheapest way to fix this. Then you need to pay attention to what you are doing- sleep on your back- best position, use a pillow under the knees- it lets the spine- neck reset itself. When people don't know what something is- they can get a panic attack- the ER is full of people having panic attacks, due to acid reflux, or rapid hearbeat, or feeling out there due to fear. You can handle this with just a prescription for xanax to take when one is coming on- There is nothing wrong here really except you had one and then did not know why you had more of them bc of how the body is set up.

Answer 6

The Anxiety Disorders
Panic disorder is one of several anxiety disorders. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), anxiety disorders are the most common of all psychiatric disorders. In the United States alone, 23 million people suffer from anxiety disorders. The anxiety disorders include agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, specific phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Panic Attacks
Panic disorder is marked by recurrent, spontaneous panic attacks.
A panic attack is an intense period of fear or discomfort. During the attack, a person may experience the following symptoms:
Noticeably quick or pounding heartrate
Pain or other discomfort in the chest
Sweating
Shaking
Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath
Dizziness
Tingling sensations
Fear of going crazy or losing control
Fear of dying
Derealization or depersonalization
Choking sensation
Nausea
Cold or hot flashes
To be diagnosed as a panic attack, four or more symptoms should be present. Otherwise, the attack is described as "limited symptom attack." Those who experience panic attacks usually describe them as occurring "out of the blue."
Panic Disorder
One panic attack does not result in a diagnosis of panic disorder. In fact, many people experience a panic attack at some time in their lives, and, while the experience may be a bit disconcerting, it doesn't result in panic disorder.

To become panic disorder, the initial panic attack will be followed by one month (or more) of one (or more) of the following:

Constant worry about having another panic attack
Constant worry about the cause of the attack (i.e., heart attack)
Major behavioral change related to the panic attack
In addition, it should be determined that the panic attacks are not the result of other conditions:
A substance (drug abuse, medication)
A physiological condition (i.e., hyperthyroidism)
Another psychiatric disorder (particularly other anxiety disorders)
In other words, it's important to have a complete physical to rule out all possible causes, and it's important to find a mental health provider who specializes in anxiety disorders to rule out other possible diagnoses.

Answer 7

A discrete period of intense fear or discomfort, in which four (or more) of the following symptoms
developed abruptly and reached a peak within 10 minutes:

palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate
sweating
trembling or shaking
sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
feeling of choking
chest pain or discomfort
nausea or abdominal distress
feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from oneself)
fear of losing control or going crazy
fear of dying
paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensations)
chills or hot flushes
At least one of the attacks has been followed by 1 month (or more) of one (or more) of
the following:

persistent concern about having additional attacks
worry about the implications of the attack or its consequences (e.g., losing control, having a
heart attack, "going crazy")
a significant change in behavior related to the attacks
The Panic Attacks are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug
of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism).

The Panic Attacks are not better accounted for by another mental disorder.

Answer 8

An anxiety illness characterized by attacks of anxiety or terror, often -- but not always -- occurring unexpectedly and without reason. In general, the attacks last 15 to 30 minutes.



characterized by chronic, repeated, and unexpected panic attacks - bouts of overwhelming fear of being in danger when there is no specific cause for the fear. In-between panic attacks, persons with panic disorder worry excessively about when and where the next attack may occur.

Classification of anxiety disorder characterized by attacks of acute intense anxiety, with or without agoraphobia.


[DSM-IV] an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent panic (anxiety) attacks, episodes of intense apprehension, fear, or terror associated with somatic symptoms such as dyspnea, palpitations, dizziness, vertigo, faintness, or shakiness and with psychological symptoms such as feelings of unreality (depersonalization or derealization) or fears of dying, going crazy, or losing control; there is usually chronic nervousness and tension between attacks. ...

A type of anxiety disorder in which a person suffers intense, overwhelming terror suddenly and for no apparent reason. The fear is accompanied by physical symptoms.


marked by sudden attacks of terror and irrational fear, an overwhelming sense of impending doom and bodily symptoms such as racing heartbeat, gasping for air, sweating, weakness, dizziness and feelings of unreality. ii


A stronger form of anxiety that may include sweating, heart racing, dizziness or feeling like one is going to die. This disorder may cause lack of sleep and paranoia to the point that the consumer does not want to go certain places or leave his home at all.


a medical condition in which a person experiences frequent and repeated episodes of intense fear known as panic attacks.


people with Panic Disorder experience recurrent unexpected episodes of severe anxiety. These panic attacks can occur up to several times a day. The symptoms can include pounding heart, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and fears of dying or of "going crazy". There are several medications that are used to prevent panic attacks, including antianxiety and antidepressant medications.


A disorder cuasing fear and the feeling of impending doom or death followed or accompanied by rapid heart beat, shortness of breath, sweaty palms, dizziness.


Characterised by feelings of extreme fear and dread that strike unexpectedly and repeatedly for no apparent reason, often accompanied by intense physical symptoms, such as chest pain, pounding heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress.


is a condition in which persons experience sudden, severe attacks of anxiety. Symptoms consist of heart palpitations, shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, upset stomach and fear of dying or losing control. Some patients have such attacks only occasionally, while others may have several attacks a day. ...


The presence of recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and persistent worries about having attacks. Panic Attack refers to the sudden onset of intense apprehension, fearfulness, or terror, often associated with feelings of impending doom. There may also be shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pain or discomfort, choking or smothering sensations, and fear of "going crazy" or losing control.


an emotional disorder characterized by attacks of anxiety that have no normal causes; usually made worse by stress


Usually panic disorder is predictable, and it occurs in intervals of 10 minutes, lasting for 10 or 20 minutes. It is a psychological disorder characterized by autonomic symptoms, with an uncontrollable fear of death or insanity.
www.el-aura.com/terminology-e.html

An anxiety disorder characterized by chronic unexpected episodes of potentially disabling intense fear or anxiety, often accompanied by physical symptoms, such as rapid heartbeat and dizziness.
www.schizophrenicpen.com/def2.html

an anxiety disorder characterized by unpredictable panic attacks; the attacks are usually severe but brief
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

A panic attack is a period of intense fear or discomfort, typically with an abrupt onset and usually lasting no more than thirty minutes. Symptoms include trembling, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sweating, nausea, dizziness, hyperventilation, paresthesias (tingling sensations), and sensations of choking or smothering. The disorder is strikingly different from other types of anxiety, in that panic attacks are very sudden, appear to be unprovoked, and are often disabling.



note: Caffine can intesify a panic attack.

Answer 9

mn

Answer 10

It is bad. Very bad.