Panic attacks are sudden surges of overwhelming fear that that comes without warning and without any obvious reason. It is far more intense than having anxiety or the feeling of being 'stressed out' that most people experience. One out of every 75 people worldwide will experience a panic attack at one time in their lives.
In any given year, about 1/3 of American adults have at least one panic attack; most of these adults never develop repeated panic attacks. This startling data means that anxiety attacks and panic attacks are the most common emotional disorders and are more common than bipolar disorder, OCD schizophrenia, PTSD, ADHD, phobias, alcohol abuse or depression. Anxiety and panic attacks also has the lowest rates - about 21% - for seeking help and finding it. Sadly these numbers are on the rise every day.
Let me quote an example. Ann was watching television after a typical workday. She suddenly developed a peculiar and very strong feeling of being lightheaded and a smothering sensation as if there were no oxygen in the air she was breathing. Then a surge of pounding rapid heartbeat began. It came on so quickly and was so severe that she became panicked that she might be dying of a heart attack! Then she felt very shaky, sweaty, and unsteady. This whole experience reached peak intensity within 60 seconds. This was the eighth such attack this month.
Panic was hardly the word to describe how terrified she was feeling. It went beyond any feeling of fear that she had ever experienced. Although she had gone to the emergency room several times, nothing seemed to be found by the doctors to explain why she kept having the attacks.
She frantically searched for her car keys so that she could get to the hospital immediately. She thought desperately, "What's wrong with me?"
