Panic Attacks: Causes, Effects, and Solutions
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Panic Attacks: Causes, Effects, and Solutions

Introduction

 

According to a report from Cleveland Clinic, approximately 11 percent of Americans experience a panic attack every year. Between 2 and 3 percent of these people also go on to develop panic disorder.

 

There’s a lot of confusion out there about panic attacks, what causes them, and what should be done to address them. For those who are confused and want to learn more, the following questions and answers can shed some light on the issue.

 

 

 

 

What Is a Panic Attack? Is That the Same Thing as an Anxiety Attack?

 

Panic attacks are characterized by brief, sudden, and intense feelings of fear in response to a non-threatening situation. They’re also typically accompanied by strong physical reactions (hands shaking, difficulty catching one’s breath, etc.).

 

When someone worries excessively about having panic attacks, they may develop panic disorder. Panic disorder might cause them to change their behaviors or go to great lengths to avoid potentially having another panic attack.

 

Panic Attack vs. Anxiety Attack

 

Most people don’t know the difference between a panic attack and an anxiety attack. This has to do, in part, with the fact that they share a lot of similarities.

 

Panic attacks also are not listed in the DSM-5 (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), so they’re more open to interpretation.