Panic Attack Disorder - A New Epidemic?
It is becoming clear that panic attacks and anxiety attacks are on the rise. In fact, some claim that they have become the most common emotional disorders. There are more cases of this behavioral disability every year, and they have become more popular that other emotional problems such as ADHD, bipolar disorder, OCD, schizophrenia, PTSD and more.
This phenomena can be described as an overwhelming fear that comes out of no where, without warning and without any obvious reason.
However, it is important to distinguish between a random
anxiety attack almost everyone experiences at one time or the other,
and a chronic, repeating pattern.
If you had a panic attack at one time - there's nothing to worry about.
Panicking when a situation is extreme is normal, and is not a disorder
in any way. This is known as "Social Anxiety Disorder", and about %17
of the adult population experiances it at some stage. But if a pattern
starts to develop and you begin getting these attacks repeatedly - than
there is a good chance that you have developed a Panic Attack Disorder.
Another dead give away is that the attack comes with no apparent
reason. This increases the odds that a disorder is developing.
So, are you having a Panic Attack Disorder , or is it something else?
Take a good look into our Symptoms Of Panic Attack guide. This should provide you with some insight. You should be able to get a clue weather your panic attack is a real compulsive behavioral disorder or a normal reaction to a highly stressful situation.
How common is Panic Disorder?
Anxiety and panic disorders are more common that one may think. Here are some statistics about the prevalence of this mental disability:
Prevalence of Panic and Anxiety disorder: approximately
2.4
million Americans (NIMH). That means about 1 in 125 Americans is a
panic disorder sufferer.
Incidence (annual) of Panic disorder: 1.7% of US adults annually
(NIMH). That's 4.6 million incidents, per year in the United States
alone.
Legend:
NIMH - National Institute of Mental Health, a part of the United States
National Institutes of Health.
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