What is panic disorder?
Panic disorder occurs when someone has a history of panic attacks and worries about having more.
What happens during a panic attack?
- Sudden waves of intense fear
- Physical symptoms (heart racing, shortness of breath, dizziness)
- Fear of losing control or something being medically wrong
- Avoiding places where panic has occurred
What does panic disorder look like in real life?
Panic disorder affects behavior: Oftentimes the worry of having another panic attack becomes so intense that the individual stops going places where they suspect a panic attack might occur.
Panic disorder affects how we experience bodily sensations: The brain becomes overly sensitive to normal body sensations (like a racing heart) and interprets them as dangerous.
How is panic disorder treated?