What Is Panic Disorder?

by | May 24, 2022 | Limitless Counseling

Therapy for panic disorder

What Is Panic Disorder and How Is It Treated? 

Did you know that if you are experiencing a repeated intense feeling of fear and anxiety without apparent cause then you might be suffering from a panic disorder? If that is the case, this guide is for you. Follow the guide below to learn the causes, symptoms, prevention, and treatment options for a panic disorder.

What Is Panic Disorder?

A panic attack is a severe surge of worry, fear, or anxiety. Panic attacks often strike out without any warning, and with no clear trigger. They can also occur in a relaxed state or during sleep.

In a panic attack, the body’s fight or flight response is turned on in a response to fear, when you feel endangered and incapable of escape. These panic attacks may be a one-time occurrence or a repetition of episodes. If someone experiences panic attacks without a cause this is known as a panic disorder.

According to the National Health Service (NHS), a panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder in which there are regular repetitive intervals of sudden attacks of fear.

As per stats, each year 11% of the total American population experience a panic attack out of which 2-3% go on to develop a panic disorder.

Causes of Panic Disorder

The actual reason for the panic disorder is not precisely known but it tends to activate, initiate and connect with many aspects including:

  • Genetics (family member having a panic disorder)
  • A traumatic life occurrence like the death of a loved one
  • A stressful life event (recovering from a major accident or news)
  • An imbalance of chemicals in the brain known as neurotransmitters

Risk Factors of Panic Disorder

The risk factors include:

  • Cigarette smoking
  • Alcohol intake
  • Family history
  • Hormonal imbalance
  • Stress
  • Depression

Symptoms of Panic Disorder

If someone has panic disorder, there are a series of symptoms they can experience including:

  • Palpitations
  • Dizziness
  • Extreme feeling of fear
  • Sweating
  • Nausea
  • Chest Heaviness
  • Shaking
  • Hot or cold flushes
  • Numbness
  • Feeling of throat blockage
  • Shortness of breath
  • Dryness in mouth
  • Urinary urgency
  • Ringing in ears
  • Goosebumps
  • Tingling sensations
  • Loss of control over the body

DURATION & OCCURRENCE

Duration usually lasts between 5 to 20 minutes but can extend up to 1 hour or more. Occurrence can be one to two times a month or several times a week.

How The Diagnosis Is Made

A diagnosis of panic disorder is made by your healthcare provider or a doctor. Your doctor will inspect your detailed history and symptoms, and perform a mental health examination in order to make a diagnosis. There is no specific test for panic disorder diagnosis but the symptoms are similar to other diseases like heart attacks.

 These lab tests are also done to rule those causes out:

  • Routine blood tests
  • Electrocardiogram

If the routine lab tests and electrocardiogram are clear and you have 4 or more panic attack episodes back to back, you may have a panic disorder.

Not everyone with panic attacks has or develops a panic disorder. The diagnostic criteria of the American Psychiatric Association for a diagnosis of panic disorder are:

  • Panic attacks are frequent.
  • You are constantly worried about the other attack and thus triggering the attack.
  • There is an apparent cause of the attacks.
  • There are no underlying other mental illnesses present.

OTHER POSSIBILITIES

There are other possibilities containing the same symptoms as a panic attack and must be excluded before the diagnosis is made:

  • Thyroid issues – Hypothyroidism
  • Low blood sugar – Hypoglycemia
  • Cardiac issues – MVP (mitral valve prolapse)
  • Excessive use or recent use of CNS stimulants like caffeine, amphetamines, or cocaine and other drugs).
  • Long term medications withdrawal

What Are The Treatment Options for A Panic Disorder?


Treatment can help reduce the intensity and frequency of your panic attacks and improve your function in day-to-day life. The main treatment possibilities are psychotherapy and medications. One or both types of remedies may be suggested, depending on the need as per your history, the severity of your panic disorder, etc.

The good news is that the panic attack and the panic disorder are both considered controllable with a proper line of treatment.

PSYCHOTHERAPY

Psychotherapy is regarded as an effective and useful first-line treatment for panic disorder. It can help you comprehend panic attacks and panic disorder and understand how to manage them. 

 For panic disorder, a form of psychotherapy known as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) cognitive behavioral therapy can help you discover, via your incident, that the symptoms occurring during an attack are not dangerous. The CBT therapist will assist you in gradually memorizing the symptoms of an attack in a secure, repetitious way. Once the physical senses of fright no longer feel terrifying, the episodes start to settle. Successful therapy can also aid you to overcome worries of circumstances that you’ve sidestepped because of panic attacks. 

Noticing outcomes from therapy can take time, effort, and patience. You will start to see a decrease in the severity of symptoms in a few weeks to months. After that, you can schedule a maintenance visit to your therapist to keep them under control and manage the reoccurrences.

Limitless Counseling offers psychotherapy for panic disorder in Illinois and Wisconsin. 

MEDICATIONS

Drugs can help relieve symptoms of a panic disorder and the intervals of attacks significantly as well as depression. Several classifications of medications have been indicated to be useful in controlling the symptoms including:

SSRIs – Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

 Generally safe with a low risk of severe side effects, and are the first choice of medications to treat panic disorder.  

SNRIs- Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors

These medications are another class of antidepressants approved by the FDA for treatment. 

Note – If one medication doesn’t work well for you, your health care provider may recommend switching to another or combining certain medications to boost effectiveness. It can take many weeks after starting medicine to notice an improvement in symptoms.

Usually, medications can take 2 to 4 weeks before they start to work, and up to 8 weeks to work fully. 

How to Prevent a Panic Disorder?

Prevention is better than cure. If you prevent an attack before it happens, that’s the best case scenario.

TAKE MEDICATIONS REGULARLY

If you have been prescribed medications for a panic disorder, take them regularly and for the same duration as prescribed by your doctor, even if you feel fine.

JOIN A GROUP

Joining a group with people having similar issues can help you cope and share your problems and feelings easily which will help you vent and generate a feeling that someone is there to talk to and help.

AVOID BRAIN STIMULANTS

Avoid substances like caffeine, tobacco, cocaine, alcohol, and recreational drugs as they have triggering effects and will also worsen the symptoms of your panic disorder.

KEEP YOURSELF STRESS-FREE

Engaging in activities like yoga and meditation can help you to avoid stress and manage your stress levels in day-to-day life which is, again, a triggering factor for a panic disorder.

EXERCISE REGULARLY

Getting yourself active and engaging in physical activities will not only help your body and mind divert from your fears and stresses but will also help you to calm down and keep your mood elevated.

ADEQUATE SLEEP IS A MUST

Getting enough sleep is a must for the regulation and proper function of the mind. 8 hours of sleep will also help in calming down the mind and avoiding panic attacks.

Complications

If the panic disorder is left untreated you can experience complications such as: 

  • Agoraphobia (fear of crowded places)
  • Habit of substance abuse
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Depression

Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia 

Agoraphobia is a fear of public places. It can develop as a complication of panic attacks and panic disorder. Although it can originate at any point, the usual course is within a year of your first attack.

Agoraphobics are afraid of going to crowded areas and meeting people as they have a fear that if they have a panic attack, the escape would not be easy, or they would be helpless in that situation.

For example, if you are an agoraphobic you may begin to avoid:

  • Get togethers at places in public that are crowded, example: shopping malls
  • Driving a car
  • Traveling in airplanes or subways
  • Social gatherings
  • Eating out in a restaurant
  • Physical exercise
  • Some food or drinks
  • Going anywhere alone without company

In A Nutshell

Panic disorder is difficult to treat but still treatable and manageable. If you or your loved one have ever experienced multiple panic attacks without any apparent cause or have a constant fear of them recurring, it’s better to get help and get yourself evaluated. The panic disorder will not go away but the symptoms, durations, and intensity can be managed and decreased by receiving proper help in the form of lifestyle modifications, psychotherapy, and medications.

 Try to be aware of any manifestations of fear or anxiety after a major life event or change. If you are stressed out by something that you encountered, consider consulting with your healthcare provider, physician, or mental health professional.