Taking this handy questionnaire can help determine whether you're having panic attacks and how severe they are. You might want to print it out, since you can't fill it out on-line. If you also answered Yes to Questions 4 or 5, panic attacks are beginning to interfere with your daily life even when you're not panicking. If any of these questions hit home, this brochure is for you. If you've been having panic attacks, you're not alone.
Panic attacks are actually very common.
At least 3 million people in the United States report having panic attacks. There are probably many more people who are affected but never seek help or never label their problems as panic attacks. A panic attack is an intense physical and mental chain reaction. It can begin with a simple bodily sensation or a thought about something threatening. Within seconds, a chain reaction is underway, involving fearful thoughts, escalating physical reactions, and feelings of terror and desperation.