A Description of Panic Disorder
Andrew McClarren
November 17, 2014
HPA 057, Section 001
Panic Disorder Essay
Panic Disorder is classified as a heightened version of anxiety. With this disorder, a person will have severe episodes in which they feel a sense of being threatened and lose control of their thoughts and extreme bodily responses take over. An attack could occur at any time without a trigger and without warning. In most cases, the situation the person experiencing the attack is in does not in any way call for a response so intense. Due to lack of warning and fear of reoccurrence, panic disorder often takes over the person’s life and effects everyday activities (Anxiety & Panic Disorders Health Center). This disorder affects roughly six million Americans each year with women having a higher likelihood of experiencing attacks than men. In most cases, people experiencing panic attacks will not seek any form of medical intervention or turn to others for support considering the stigma that comes with any mental disorder. It’s important for these individuals to know that the attacks they are experiencing are legitimate issues that can be treated by medication and other treatment (Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia). Like many mental diseases and disorders, panic disorder usually occurs alongside another disorder such as depression or anxiety and in extreme cases may be linked to things such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or other traumas from earlier life. Because this disorder is often associated with issues from prior life experiences, attacks usually happen to young adults but may still occur in children and elderly individuals. In a number of situations, the panic attacks may be further diagnosed as Agoraphobia. This happens because the individuals feel an extreme sense of fear when they are exposed to the same or similar situations they were in beforehand in which they had once experienced an attack. Due to the fear and anxiety, these people often will avoid the situations altogether
November 17, 2014
HPA 057, Section 001
Panic Disorder Essay
Panic Disorder is classified as a heightened version of anxiety. With this disorder, a person will have severe episodes in which they feel a sense of being threatened and lose control of their thoughts and extreme bodily responses take over. An attack could occur at any time without a trigger and without warning. In most cases, the situation the person experiencing the attack is in does not in any way call for a response so intense. Due to lack of warning and fear of reoccurrence, panic disorder often takes over the person’s life and effects everyday activities (Anxiety & Panic Disorders Health Center). This disorder affects roughly six million Americans each year with women having a higher likelihood of experiencing attacks than men. In most cases, people experiencing panic attacks will not seek any form of medical intervention or turn to others for support considering the stigma that comes with any mental disorder. It’s important for these individuals to know that the attacks they are experiencing are legitimate issues that can be treated by medication and other treatment (Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia). Like many mental diseases and disorders, panic disorder usually occurs alongside another disorder such as depression or anxiety and in extreme cases may be linked to things such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or other traumas from earlier life. Because this disorder is often associated with issues from prior life experiences, attacks usually happen to young adults but may still occur in children and elderly individuals. In a number of situations, the panic attacks may be further diagnosed as Agoraphobia. This happens because the individuals feel an extreme sense of fear when they are exposed to the same or similar situations they were in beforehand in which they had once experienced an attack. Due to the fear and anxiety, these people often will avoid the situations altogether