Recognizing Panic Disorder

"I couldn't sleep so I was up late one night watching TV on the couch. I don't remember what I was watching or anything, it all just happened so fast. I remember sitting there, when all of a sudden my heart started beating really fast. My throat tightened, like there was a giant lump lodged in my breathing airways. I thought, 'This is it, I'm having a heart attack.' As I stood up to call out to my husband, I almost fell over. I was dizzy and had this strange, surreal feeling of impending doom. I just knew I was going to die.

My husband raced me to the emergency room two blocks away. My heart was still racing, and I was sure I would pass out before we even got to the emergency room doors. When the administrating nurse saw us walk in, she immediately took us to a room in the back. As my husband answered the nurse's questions and explained what happened, the nurse gave me a tranquilizer to calm me down. It worked almost instantly. After I was calmed down, they then did a few tests. They said I did not suffer from a heart attack and indeed, everything seemed to be just fine, but suggested I see my doctor the next morning just to be sure. (This scenario replayed another three times over the course of the next six months. It got to the point where the nurses recognized my husband and I when we walked through the emergency room doors. They had to think I was crazy, but at this point, I didn't care – I was just scared. I believed I had to be suffering from a terminal disease. It just had to be something terrible, but I had no idea what it was.

My doctor also found nothing wrong with me. He said it was likely just stress and prescribed a mild dose of medication he said would help me. I was scared to take the medication and kept the pills hidden in my purse, only taking them when I had to. Now, I don't go anywhere without my husband. I do not like to shop, drive or go out at all without him. I know if he is with me, he will take me to the hospital if I need to go. I hate living this way, but I'm afraid of what might happen if this happens to me and he's not around. They would probably lock me up in an institution some place and never let me out."

What is panic disorder?

In dangerous, life-threatening situations, the body's defense mechanism kicks in to prepare us for confrontation or flight from a perceived threat. In these situations, the body gets us physically and mentally prepared to fight or flee through the release of endorphins, adrenalin, cortisol, sodium lactate and more. Simplified, these chemicals greatly increase our pain threshold, give us a powerful boost of energy and increase our blood and oxygen supply to vital organs and muscles.

Think of a past heated verbal exchange or the time that another driver blindly cut into your lane in busy traffic. Everyone is familiar with this response and the sensations it brings. However, individuals with panic disorder are so sensitive to their thoughts, inner dialogue and environment, they can trigger this defense mechanism and associated response at will. Imagine, you're safe at home, sitting in front of the TV in your favorite chair when out of nowhere, you feel your heart rate accelerate, your breathing becomes erratic, and you experience true terror for no reason whatsoever. This is the experience of the panic sufferer.

People suffering from panic disorder may not be anxious all of the time. However, they do experience unanticipated "attacks" that recur after periods of normal functioning. These "attacks" are sudden, overwhelming periods of intense fear (panic attacks) that seemingly come out of nowhere. Quite often, a person suffering from a panic attack will believe he or she is suffering from a heart attack and dying. These intense physical sensations stem from the natural chemical response associated with the fight or flight response.

Common symptoms of panic attacks include:

racing heartbeat

difficulty breathing, feeling as if you can't get enough air

terror that is almost paralyzing

dizziness, lightheadedness or nausea

trembling, sweating, shaking

choking, chest pains

hot flashes, or sudden chills

tingling in fingers or toes ("pins and needles")

fear that you're going to go crazy or about to die

* Source: American Psychological Association

The person suffering from panic disorder often develops anticipatory anxiety, tension and worry that the panic will happen again.

Helpful Guidelines For Coping With Panic Disorder

Recognize and admit that you are feeling anxious.
Become aware of your body's symptoms. Don't let them scare you; let them "talk" to you.
Try to pinpoint what it is you are anxious about. What happened yesterday? What were you thinking about before you went to bed? If you can't pinpoint the source, don't worry about it and try to move on.
If you do know what it is that is bothering you, what can you do to eliminate or minimize the situation in some way so that it isn't so stressful?
More important, how can you react differently so you won't be so affected by this situation?
Give yourself permission to feel anxious about whatever it is that is bothering you. "Of course I feel anxious about this problem. Anyone would."
Listen to the dialogue within yourself. Are you filling yourself full of negative thoughts about a certain situation? What could you say to yourself that would feel more comforting and soothing.
Are you overwhelming yourself with "shoulds" and high expectations? If so, which ones could you eliminate?
Are you blaming someone else for your anxieties, unhappiness, poor health, lack of success or whatever? How can you take responsibility for yourself and make some positive changes?