Panic Disorder

Key points

• It usually first appears in late adolescence or early adulthood; women are affected more often than men.
• Most panic attacks last between 5 and 20 minutes, although some are reported to last up to an hour or longer.
• Attacks can happen several times a day or only a few times a year.

What an attack can feel like

During an attack, breathing may become short, the chest may tighten, and the heart may pound or race. Dizziness, sweating and a detached or unreal feeling can also arise. Some people become certain that something grave is happening, such as suffocation. Trembling, tingling and a rapid heart rate can make the episode feel like a heart attack. These sensations can lead someone to seek urgent medical attention.

How it is treated

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) helps a person test frightening readings of bodily sensations and slowly face situations that have been avoided. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often the first medicine tried; sertraline may make attacks less frequent and less severe over several weeks of steady use. Sertraline tablets come in 25, 50 and 100mg strengths. Orders are shipped to Malaysia from pharmacy partners in India in discreet packaging.

When to get medical help

Panic symptoms can also occur in other conditions, so a physical examination is needed to rule out other causes. Although an attack is frightening, it is not dangerous and will not cause physical harm; it is unlikely to lead to hospital admission. If attacks are severe, or you are thinking about self-harm, seek prompt help from a mental health professional or crisis service.

What the sources say

• A panic attack can occur at any time, often without an apparent trigger. (NHS)
• People with panic disorder have repeated, unexpected attacks. A sudden wave of fear or a sense of losing control can arise when no clear danger is present. (NIMH)

Further reading

• Panic disorder & panic attacks - Beyond Blue
• Panic attacks and panic disorder - healthdirect
• Panic disorder - NHS
• Panic Disorder: What You Need to Know - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)