What is Severe Panic Disorder?

Severe panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder that manifests as chronic, severe panic attacks. A severe panic attack is one that last longer than a few minutes. The disorder develops when these attacks are frequent and cause the person to spend time between attacks in constant fear of the next episode. Symptoms include terror, coupled with a strong physical reaction similar to a heart attack. Proper diagnosis and treatment are available with the help of a trained therapist.

Severe panic disorder is characterized by multiple, severe panic attacks. A panic attack is the sudden onset of intense fear, often without a clear trigger point or cause. Panic attacks induce a severe physical reaction, similar to a heart attack. When people experience a panic attack for the first time, they often believe they are having a heart attack.

Physical symptoms of severe panic attack disorder vary with each attack and individual. Common symptoms are dizziness, difficulty breathing, and sweating. Chills, hot flashes, and trouble swallowing are also symptoms of a severe panic attack. These symptoms typically peak within 10 minutes, but usually don't last longer than an hour. Some severe cases have lasted all day.

Many people have one or two panic attacks in their lifetime and never develop a panic disorder. Severe panic disorder, however, develops when panic attacks occur frequently. The frequency of these terrifying episodes begin to affect day-to-day levels of anxiety because the person feels out of control, not knowing when another panic attack will strike. The effects can be debilitating, resulting in constant fear of having a panic attack.

People who experience more than four severe panic attacks and have spent more than a month in constant fear of another attack are diagnosed with severe panic disorder. Another common symptom of this disorder is avoidance of situations believed to bring about panic attacks. Unfortunately, this avoidance is not effective and can result in an additional anxiety disorder called agoraphobia, which is when fear prevents a person from leaving his or her home.

The cause of severe panic disorder remains unclear. Researchers believe that stress, genetics, and brain function all may play some part in the onset of this disorder. Some experts believe that panic attacks and panic disorders are a glitch in the body's natural fight-or-flight response to danger.

Fortunately, severe panic disorder is very treatable with the help of a trained therapist. The most effective treatments are psychotherapy and medication. If left untreated, this disorder can lead to other mental or physical health problems. Some of these problems include phobias, such as agoraphobia, social difficulties, and increased risk of suicide.