All Hope Behavioral Health Services

Panic Disorder

Therapy for coping with stress and anxiety.

Panic Disorder: Understanding the Waves of Fear

Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks. These attacks are sudden surges of intense fear or discomfort that come on quickly and reach their peak within minutes. While panic attacks themselves are frightening, panic disorder is distinguished by persistent worry about future attacks and significant changes people make in their lives to avoid them.

Here’s a breakdown of key aspects of panic disorder:

Symptoms of Panic Attacks:

Diagnostic Criteria:

For a diagnosis of panic disorder, a person must experience recurrent (unexpected) panic attacks followed by at least one month of persistent worry about having another attack or the consequences of the attacks (e.g., losing control, having a heart attack).

Causes:

The exact cause of panic disorder is unknown, but a combination of factors is likely involved, including:

Consequences:

Panic disorder can significantly impact a person’s quality of life. People with panic disorder may:

Treatment:

Fortunately, panic disorder is highly treatable. The two main treatment approaches are:

For more information or to schedule a TOVA test, please contact our clinic today.