Panic Disorders

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR), "Panic disorder is characterized by recurrent, unexpected Panic Attacks. There are three types of panic attacks - unexpected, situationally bound and situationally predisposed." These are also referred to as spontaneous, uncued, and "out-of-the-blue," in simpler terms. Panic attacks can be a very scary experience, but there are now many ways to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of attacks. Many people know someone or have witnessed someone experiencing a panic attack. The remainder of people would probably have witnessed a panic attack and not have recognized the symptoms as a panic attack.

Panic disorders are a feeling of terror or fright that strike out of nowhere, over- and over again with no warning. There is no way to foresee when an attack will strike and no way to know how powerful it will be. Many people that experience panic disorders worry about when and where the next panic attack will strike and therefore develop an intense anxiety between attacks. While in a panic attack one will experience a flood of intense sensations. This includes rapid heartbeat, lightheadedness, and loss of strength, flushing and numbness. There is the feeling of sickness, fear of losing control, and a sense of impending disaster with sudden overwhelming, intense fear. Symptoms are said to feel as a though one is a victim of a heart attack. These attacks peak within 10 minutes but there are symptoms and side effects that last much longer. The attack can occur at any time and in some cases during sleep without provocation or motivation. Panic attacks will eventually lead to a person feeling as though their lives are controlled by the attacks which often results in the person choosing to never leave their home.

Professionals once thought that panic disorders were closely related to subconscious disturbances or other psychological troubles. Modern research suggests that the new idea of the brain having a slight imbalance of the correct chemicals is found to have a powerful role in panic disorders. The part of the brain that controls fear responses is known as the amygdala. According to Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, the amygdale is an almond-shaped neural structure in the anterior part of the temporal lobe of the cerebrum; intimately connected with the hypothalamus and the hippocampus and the cingulate gyrus. As part of the limbic system, the amygdala plays an important role in motivation and emotional behavior. Panic attacks are now viewed as an abnormal activation in this part of one's brain. Panic disorder is a real illness and can be treated with medicine or therapy. In recent studies, researchers are finding the cause to be an error in the section of the brain that measures the level of Carbon Dioxide is in the blood stream. According to McNally's Critical Analysis of a Panic Disorder, if the brain finds there is too much CO2 in the blood stream, it usually means that one is not breathing fast enough, or there is too much CO2 in the air. In response, the body sends signals to increase the respiratory rate and sends a rush of adrenaline to help one escape whatever it is that it needs to avoid. It is this same response that research is now saying happens in a panic attack, but there is a sufficient, normal level of CO2. According to McNally, panic attacks can also be inherited. If a parent has a panic disorder, there is a very strong probability that their children will also have the disorder. This type of hereditary trait is known as Behavioral Inhibition. Panic Attacks will usually start around the ages of 18 to 24, but can happen younger or older. The amount of stress in a person's life can also dictate at