While medication is helpful for many people, it's not the only way, and it's not for everybody. A panic attack is a discreet episode where suddenly someone is flooded with intense feelings of terror. It usually last a few seconds to a minute or two, even though it seems like forever. People can have panic attacks either spontaneously or in specific situations, like while driving a car, going through a tunnel, on a bridge or while giving a speech or in a social situation. If they're avoiding specific places or situations because they're afraid of panic attacks, they have what we call a phobia.
Some people have panic attacks only in social situations.
Or they have such an extreme fear of situations where they're around people and fear they may be scrutinized by others or that they may embarrass themselves, and therefore they avoid social situations. They have what we call social phobia, or social anxiety disorder. People with social anxiety disorder may or may not have panic attacks, and some may avoid specific social situations like public speaking, while others avoid many situations that involve interacting with people. And there have been studies at the National Institute of Mental Health demonstrating this. So I strongly recommend that if someone is having panic attacks, whether they're spontaneous or specific, they should definitely cut back on their caffeine or avoid it altogether.