Panic Attacks

Panic Disorder
Cherry Fields
HCA/240
January 22, 2012
Debra Salyers

Panic Disorder
                Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder that causes panic attacks for example;
when the phone rings   suddenly and it makes you jump and your heart starts beating
like crazy, or all of a sudden you have this overwhelming feeling terror for no reason,
these are panic attacks. You may have had one or two panic attacks in your lifetime,
but if you have had several panic attacks and have spent long periods in constant fear of
another attack, you may have a chronic condition called panic disorder (“Mayo Clinic,”).

            Panic attacks can cause severe physical reactions, and they are very frightening.
Some people may feel that they are losing control or even having a heart attack or even
dying (“Panic Disorder Pubmed Health,”). Panic disorders is twice as common in women
as in men. Symptoms usually begin before the age of 25, but can occur in the mid 30s.
panic disorders can occur in children, but is not diagnosed until they are much older. A
panic attack can happen suddenly and it can last about 10 – 20 minutes, and it can contin-
ue for as long as an hour or more. Panic attacks have been mistaken for a heart attack.
People that have these panic attacks can have anxiety in situations where an
escape may be difficult (such as being in a crowd or traveling in a car or bus)
(“Panic Disorder Pubmed Health,”).

              Panic attacks were once dismissed as nerves or stress, but they’re now
recognized as a real medical condition (“Mayo Clinic,”).   Although panic attacks
can definitely affect your life, but treatment is very effective today.

            People that suffer from panic attacks usually live in fear of having another
attack, and it can cause them to be afraid of being alone and from medical help. Those
that go through panic disorder have at least four of the following symptoms while going
through an attack; Chest...