Panic Disorder
Most people experience moments of panic or periods of anxiety, particularly in response to distressing events or situations.
Sudden feelings of overwhelming panic and fear are often referred to as a panic attack and whilst these feelings are a common reaction to stressful situations, frequent and unexpected panic attacks could be a sign of panic disorder.
Panic disorder refers to the experience of recurrent and disabling panic attacks which last up to a few minutes and are accompanied by physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, shaking, shortness of breath, and dizziness.
Fear of losing control, of going ‘crazy’, or of dying are also common during a panic attack. People with panic disorder often worry about experiencing further panic attacks and, as a result, may start avoiding activities or certain situations to minimise or avoid the possibility of a future panic attack.
A recent survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated that 3.7% of Australians had experienced panic within the last year. This rate could be up to 3.3 times higher in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
Women are more likely to be diagnosed with panic disorder than men. Panic disorder can occur at any age, with the typical age when problems first emerge ranging from late adolescence to early adulthood. Rates of panic disorder appear to decrease in older adults.
Panic attacks are the main symptom of panic disorder. A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear or discomfort which reaches a peak within several minutes and is accompanied by at least four of the following:
- heart palpitations, or racing/pounding heart
- shaking or trembling
- shortness of breath or a feeling of choking
- chest pain or discomfort
- nausea or abdominal upset
- chills or heat sensations/sweats
- dizziness, light-headedness, or feeling faint or unsteady
- numbness or tingling sensations
- derealisation (the feeling that what is happening around the person is not real)
- depersonalisation (the feeling of being outside one’s body looking in)
- fear of losing control or of ‘going crazy’
- fear of dying.
Two types of panic attack have been identified: expected and unexpected.
Expected panic attacks occur following a particular cue or trigger, for example, for some people being in a plane or in a lift might frequently trigger a panic attack.
Unexpected panic attacks, on the other hand, do not have an identifiable cue or trigger and can occur at any time, even if the person is in a calm state or asleep.
There are a range of treatment interventions that psychologists may use to address symptoms of panic disorder. These can be used alone or in conjunction with pharmacological therapies if needed.
Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) has the most research evidence as an effective treatment for panic disorder. CBT is a type of psychological therapy that helps a person identify and modify unhelpful thoughts and behaviours that may lead to feelings of panic. CBT for panic disorder involves a range of strategies and techniques, including psychoeducation, self-monitoring, cognitive restructuring, exposure therapy, and relaxation.
If symptoms of panic are affecting your day-to-day life, our Psychologists are trained and qualified professionals skilled in helping people with a range of mental health and wellbeing concerns, including anxiety and panic.