Question:  What is Panic Disorder?

Answer:  This anxiety based condition is the source of sudden and intense dread that springs on you out of nowhere. In order to be diagnosed with this problem you need to have had two or more panic attacks that have been followed in each instance by at least a month of continued concern about the occurrence of another attack.

Question:  What are the Symptoms of Panic Disorder?

Answer:  Panic Disorder symptoms include the symptoms that are present during an attack itself and the fear of repeated anxiety episodes that leads to the diagnosis. The specific symptoms may include:

1. Heart palpitations

2. Difficulty breathing

3. Nausea and Sweating

4. Hot and Cold Flashes

5. Chest pain

6. Dizziness

7. Loss of feeling in your extremities

8. Tingling, particularly in hands

These are only some of the symptoms that you may experience during a panic attack. You may experience some, all or different symptoms during your episodes.

Question:  How do I Know I Have Panic Disorder?

Answer:  Panic Disorder is difficult to diagnose because the symptoms come and go and when they are present, they could indicate a number of other health problems. Diagnosis is usually made by process of elimination. Your doctor will give you an EKG and maybe some other cardiac tests to ensure your heart is okay and investigate for other medical problems that might be the source of your complaints. Once these are eliminated, your doctor will probably explain what panic disorder is all about.

Question:  Why Has This Happened to Me?

Answer:  This is the upsetting question that troubles so many anxiety sufferers. One day your life was normal and everything was fine and then suddenly you are seized by this ongoing terror. Why did it strike you and not your brother? Why has it happened now and not when you were younger? The unpredictability and suddenness of this problem is what makes it so disturbing. 

The answer is your disorder is probably the result of a combination of factors; hereditary, biology, and environmental. We are all born with personalities and some people are more susceptible to strain and fear than others. We see this everyday. Some people just handle stress and bad situations better than others.

This doesn´t make you a good or bad person; it´s just part of who you are. We can travel through life without much strain or trauma and never know whether we are susceptible to anxiety problems until one day a triggering event happens, something very upsetting like the loss of a family member, severe health problems, or the loss of a job. When this happens, our latent susceptibility is triggered leading to panic attack problems.

Question:  What Can Be Done to Solve My Problem?

Answer:  There are a lot of things that can be done to rid yourself of fear and worry. Many panic disorder sufferers find that medication is helpful, either an antidepressant like Paxil or tranquilizers like Xanax. While these medications provide some relief, they probably won´t resolve all your problems and of course some people are worried about side effects and long term effects of taking drugs. 

There are a bunch of outlets for your fear based mind such as exercise, yoga, meditation and muscle relaxation that can help alleviate some of the physical and mental problems associated with this problem.