Panic disorder Because their symptoms are similar, panic disorder is often mistaken for heart attack. Panic attacks, the main symptom, occur without warning. When individuals suffer such an attack, their hearts pound, their breathing becomes shallow, and they may feel dizzy. This is often accompanied by feelings of terror, of losing control, or of dying. Fortunately for the sufferer, most attacks last only a few minutes, usually no more than 10 or 15.
Panic disorder can appear at any age, although it is more likely to begin in young adulthood.
Twice as many women as men suffer from it. When left untreated, panic disorders can lead to phobias. If an attack strikes while shopping, you maybe begin to avoid going to the mall or supermarket. If an attack occurs while driving over a bridge, you may start avoiding them or stop driving altogether. At its worst, panic disorder can lead to agoraphobia, or the fear of being unable to return to a safe place or person.