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About Anxiety Disorders
Panic Disorder
A panic attack is a singularly terrifying experience.
“It came over me out of nowhere. I was sitting in bed ready to lie down. Suddenly, I felt like I was choking. My heart started racing… I thought it would pound out of my chest. I felt like I was dying. I could barely dial 911. By the time I got to the emergency room, the feelings had subsided, but I was terribly shaken. I didn’t know what had happened to me. The hospital told me I was fine and sent me home. I had more episodes. I began to live with a feeling of dread and anxiety, always waiting for the next one. I thought I was going crazy. Finally, a psychologist told me I was having panic attacks.”
“I was in the supermarket, in the check-out line. It hit me without warning. My heart was pounding, my body got clammy. I was shaking, I was terrified, I didn’t know what would happen or what I would do. I felt like I was going crazy, just losing control, a sense of doom. I had an urgent need to just get out of there. I left my groceries in the cart and ran out of the store. The next time I went to the store, I had another attack. After that, I was so afraid of having an attack that I tried to avoid stores. Then I started avoiding any place where escape was difficult. I began planning my life around avoiding attacks. My life became more and more restricted, until I was afraid to leave my house.”
These are descriptions of panic attacks, by individuals with panic disorder.
A panic attack is different from what many people refer to as an “anxiety attack”, usually meaning they feel nervous and keyed up. A panic attack strikes out of nowhere, for no apparent reason. A panic attack may occur any time, even during the early phases of sleep. Your heart may pound. Your body may feel clammy or faint, and you may feel hot flushes or chills. Your hands may feel tingly or numb. You may experience chest pain or tightness. You may feel like you are smothering or choking. You may have a sense of unreality. You may feel like you are having a heart attack or dying. You may feel like you are going crazy or losing control. Usually, a panic attack lasts no longer than 10 minutes.
For some individuals, panic attacks occur in a specific setting, such as in a mall or on a bridge, where escape is difficult. These settings may then be avoided, sometimes to the point where the individual feels unable to leave the safety of home. These individuals are said to have agoraphobia. For others, panic attacks can happen anywhere, even when relaxing. Each panic attack increases the feelings of dread and anxiety between episodes, worrying about when the next one will hit. People with panic attack often feel ashamed or “crazy”.
Some people have just one or two panic attacks in their lives, often under times of stress, without developing panic disorder. Panic disorder is more common in women than men. It often first shows up in young adulthood. Panic disorder may be accompanied by depression. |
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Contact Dr. Barton: |
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Geraldine T. Barton, Ph.D. Phone: 845-338-3250 159 Green Street Email: drgmbarton@drgmbarton.com Kingston, NY 12401 |
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All information on this web site is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical, psychological or psychiatric advice or treatment for specific conditions. You should seek prompt care for any specific medical or mental health issues. |
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Clinical Psychologist |
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Geraldine Merola Barton, Ph.D. |