Panic disorder is one of several anxiety disorders that involve an intense, abrupt and oftentimes debilitating period of discomfort and fear. Panic disorders affect millions of men and women of all ages, and can be triggered by several situations or circumstances, real or imagined. Gerald Klerman of the World Psychiatric Association and author of the book, “Panic Anxiety and Its Treatments” points out that there are several DSM-III-R diagnostic criteria that must be fulfilled in order to classify someone as having panic disorder.

First, one or more of the panic attacks must have occurred when the person was exposed to a situation that doesn’t typically cause anxiety. Examples of routine actions and situations are washing the dishes, going to the market, or watching a movie. The panic attack must also not be triggered by a situation where the person was the center of attention, such as a public speaking event, a birthday party, or other situations where they were the focus of a crowd.

Secondly, if four or more attacks occur within a month time, or the person is experiencing a constant fear of having an attack. Difficulty sleeping, extreme paranoia and restlessness are some of the symptoms of persistent fear.

Third, during a panic attack the person must also have experienced at least four of the following symptoms: trembling or shaking; sweating; shortness of breath; dizziness; depersonalization; numbness or tingling; hot flashes; fear of dying; chest pain or discomfort; accelerated heart rate; nausea; choking; and fear of going crazy.

Fourth, these four symptoms must occur with increasing intensity within the first 10 minutes  of the panic attack. As a general rule, the person will be out of control, unbalanced, and even confused in.

Finally, rule out the possibility that the attack was triggered by caffeine, amphetamines or hyper-thyroidism. Many people experience the symptoms of panic disorder because they have become dependent on over-the-counter stimulants, or have an unaddressed medical condition. A person will not fall into this criteria if they are taking stimulants.

Panic disorder is just one of several anxiety disorders that affect millions of people every year. Some of the problems that will result from a panic disorder is difficulty maintaining social relationships, hindering a person’s ability to work, or the disruption of a normal, productive life. It is possible for people who have this condition to find the help they need with the right anxiety treatment.

Nobody has to suffer from the effects of extreme anxiety and panic attacks for the rest of their lives. Panic disorder treatments may require medical intervention only in extreme cases; most people can make changes to their lifestyle, ensure they are eating a well-balanced diet and getting enough sleep, and learning healthy ways to cope with stress. Some people may also benefit from taking natural supplements that reduce anxiety and help to alleviate some of the symptoms of a panic attack but this method will only work after an extended period of time.

There is an anxiety treatment that can help reduce the risk of panic disorders and will eliminate panic attacks. There is no need to take any medication when using this anxiety treatment. It is possible to nip the anxiety problem in the bud before it becomes a panic disorder by using the right anxiety treatment.