PANIC DISORDER

All human beings have a built-in "alarm system" that goes off when they feel threatened. Physical and emotional changes occur as the body prepares for "fight or flight." In some people, the alarm goes off in the absence of danger. This "false alarm" is called a panic attack.

Symptoms of panic attack include a myriad of physical and emotional signs. Most common are racing heart, shortness of breath, faintness, hot or cold flushes, trembling, tingling, weakness or nausea, and a sense of unreality. Symptoms of panic attack may seem like those of other serious medical events, like heart attack or stroke, and it is important to be evaluated by a medical professional to rule out other physical causes. During a panic attack, individuals may fear they are dying or going crazy or losing control. Attacks may vary in intensity, and they may change from one attack to another.

Panic attacks may be so frightening that people make changes in their normal behavior. They may avoid certain activities, such as exercise, that they fear will trigger an attack. They may avoid activities or places from which they cannot escape easily. This pattern of fear and avoidance is called agoraphobia, and it significantly limits a person's life. Some people may think of themselves as weak or defective, and they fear this experience is something that doesn't happen to other people. They will keep the symptoms hidden. This causes a strain on personal relationships, affects daily function, and limits access to care.

Once panic disorder develops, it may rapidly become a cycle of fear. First is the anxiety about where or when an attack might occur. This buildup of fear and anxiety often leads to greater fear and thus a greater likelihood that another attack will occur. Avoidance leads to a constricted lifestyle and does not diminish the fear or the anxiety.

Research suggests that many people have at least one panic attack in their lifetime. Three of every one hundred people will develop panic disorder. The onset of panic disorder usually occurs in late teens through the mid-twenties but can occur in earlier and later ages. Women are more likely affected than men, and the tendency to have panic disorder seems to run in families.

Although panic disorder feels terrible, it can be treated. The first step is to talk with your medical care provider. Usually a complete physical examination is performed, often including blood tests and an electrocardiogram. Several medications are available to help control panic attacks. Some are for short-term use and others may be used for an indefinite period of time as necessary. Certain therapies, called cognitive and cognitive-behavioral therapies, have been found effective in treating panic disorder, either alone or in conjunction with medications. Co-existing conditions such as depression or problems with alcohol and substance use may also need treatment.

Panic disorder is frightening and often misunderstood. It is important to seek care as soon as possible. Treatment can be highly effective. Your health care provider can help you decide which treatment is best for you.

For more information abut panic disorder and other medical conditions, contact the Student Health Center at (775) 784-6598.

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