What The Web Says...
Panic attacks are an increasingly common feature of modern life and can be debilitating in the extreme. We include the following on-site pages about suffering panic and anxiety disorders. These pages include information about symptoms and also treatment:
The web in general provides various resources that outline useful information about what panic is -- for example:
"Panic attacks are periods of intense fear or apprehension that are of sudden onset and of variable duration of minutes to hours. Panic attacks usually begin abruptly, may reach a peak within 10 minutes, but may continue for much longer if the sufferer had the attack triggered by a situation from which they are not able to escape. In panic attacks that continue unabated, and are triggered by a situation from which the sufferer desires to escape, some sufferers may make frantic efforts to escape, which may be violent if others attempt to contain the sufferer. Some panic attacks can subside on their own over the next several hours..."
The effects of panic attacks summarized by Wikipedia:
"...The effects of a panic attack vary. Some... may call for emergency services. Many who experience a panic attack... fear they are having a heart attack or a nervous breakdown. Experiencing a panic attack has been said to be one of the most intensely frightening, upsetting and uncomfortable experiences of a person's life and may take days to initially recover from. Repeated panic attacks are considered a symptom of panic disorder..."
The Mayo-clinic websites states:
"... One of the worst things about panic attacks is the intense fear that you'll have another one. You may fear having a panic attack so much that you avoid situations where they may occur. You may even feel unable to leave your home (agoraphobia) because no place feels safe."
With regard to the need for medical support, Mayo Clinic suggests:
"If you have any panic attack symptoms, seek medical help as soon as possible. Panic attacks are hard to manage on your own, and they may get worse without treatment. And because panic attack symptoms can also resemble other serious health problems, such as a heart attack, it's important to get evaluated by your health care provider if you aren't sure what's causing your symptoms."
Original source: Mayo Clinic
Other Useful Resources For Panic Attacks:
You might choose to complement your own doctor's advice with the use of a self-help solution, Panic Away, that many have found useful:
Anxiety Disorder Solution... read more