Anxiety and Panic Disorders Anxiety and Panic Disorders Job interviews. Meetings with your professors. We feel apprehensive, uneasy, and even dizzy. C.J. showed great concern for these episodes, expressing a fear that something was seriously wrong with her heart. Her situation is one of numerous cases of anxiety disorders prevalent in an estimated 10 to 13 million adult Americans.
Panic attacks can occur suddenly and without warning, instilling paralyzing fear.
Physical symptoms vary, ranging from shortness of breath, dizziness and sweating, to a fear of impending danger such as losing control or having a fatal heart attack. Studies indicate that in a majority of panic disorder cases, a major contributing factor was personal stress. Other research suggests biochemical imbalances or genetic vulnerability as underlying causes. Victims of recurring panic episodes should seek treatment as soon as possible. If left untreated, victims may develop agoraphobia - a complex mix of anxieties, disabling fears, and social avoidance.