If you have panic disorder, this means you experience periodic panic attacks. Panic attacks are intense episodes of fear which are so powerful that they lead the person to fear that he/she is dying, going crazy, about to faint, or losing control of themselves in some vital way.

Panic attacks may be "uncued", or unexpected (i.e. they seem to "come out of the blue", occurring for no apparent reason). They can also occur in response to various cues such as entering a crowded area; a traffic jam; being the center of attention, etc.

Panic attacks can be part of a variety of anxiety disorders, and the fact that you have panic attacks does not necessarily mean you have panic disorder. For instance, if all your panic attacks are about social situations, you may have Social Phobia rather than Panic Disorder. Or you may be having panic attacks in response to some other problem. An evaluation by a qualified therapist can help you to make the distinction, and arrive at an accurate diagnosis.

A panic attack can consist of many different symptoms, but among the most common are:

• racing heart (also skipped heartbeats and "loud heart")

• chest pain, tightness, and heaviness

• dizziness and light-headedness

• numbness and tingling in the hands and feet

• labored breathing, feeling short of breath, and hyperventilation

• stomach and intestinal distress

• racing thoughts and confusion

• fear of some catastrophic breakdown, i.e., death or insanity

• a strong impulse to flee