Panic Disorder

Panic attacks are terrifying episodes during which the person is convinced that they are about to die or collapse. They may be suddenly overwhelmed by physical and emotional sensations that feel like they signal imminent death such as heart palpitations, nausea, dizziness, faintness, chest pain, choking and sweating. Such attacks are actually a common occurrence; up to a third of adults will experience a full panic attack in any given year. However, when panic attacks occur in a person so regularly and to such an extent that they begin to seriously interfere with daily life, a person may have panic disorder.

Panic disorder is one of several types of anxiety disorders that collectively affect 12% of British Columbians in any given year.

Anxiety disorders are the most common of all mental health problems. They affect a person's behaviour, thoughts, emotions and physical health. Fortunately, they are diagnosable and treatable.

Panic disorder, in particular, will affect about 3.7% of Canadians in their lifetime (just under a million people) and affects 1 to 2% in a given year. On average, it appears in a person's mid-20s, and like most other anxiety disorders, is treated more commonly in women than in men.

A person with panic disorder does not simply experience panic attacks in a stressful or anxiety-provoking situation. He or she may experience panic at any time, often when there is no real danger. Also, panic attacks are not to be confused with the panic-like feelings associated with medical conditions like heart murmurs, or those that occur as a consequence of drug or alcohol use, or caffeine consumption.

A subcategory of panic disorder is panic disorder with agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is a specific kind of phobia where the person is afraid of being in places or situations which would be difficult to escape from, or in which it would be difficult to find help, should they suffer a panic attack.

People with agoraphobia often go to great lengths to avoid such situations. For example, they may avoid taking public transportation or stay away from shopping malls and other crowded places. Sometimes, people develop a fear of being alone. Conditions like these can cause a person with this condition to shut themselves in their homes, sometimes for years at a time.

Although the causes of panic disorder -- in all its variations -- are still being researched, studies have shown that the occurrence or anticipation of stressful life events, anxiety in childhood, over-protective or anxious parents, perfectionistic tendencies and substance abuse are common among people with panic disorder.

A variety of approaches to treatment for the disorder are effective. Some people take medications like antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs to decrease symptom severity. Cognitive-behavioural therapy also shows tremendous benefits, in combination with medication or not, because it targets the source of future attacks: the thoughts. A combination of cognitive restructuring (that challenges "catastrophic thinking") and behavioural strategies (that gradually expose the person to the anxiety-arousing situations) are the most successful techniques. They can also involve exploring what exactly triggers the person's panic and how to deal with it when it occurs.

What's the difference between a panic attack and panic disorder?

A panic attack is a very sudden (typically within 10 minutes) rush of intense fear that is accompanied by at least four strong body sensations of anxiety such as pounding heart, dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, etc. Research studies show that approximately 10-33% of adults in the general population experience a panic attack in any given year. In other words, a panic attack is a normal experience and more common than you might have thought. For most people a panic attack is usually a sign that the person is very upset about something or feeling a high level of stress (i.e., they feel a sense of danger or threat in their lives). For this reason, having a panic attack does not mean you automatically have panic disorder. A panic attack can occur in any of the anxiety disorders. However, for people with panic disorder, it's the panic attacks themselves that are the biggest problem (i.e., it is the panic attacks that cause distress, suffering and interference in one's life). More specifically, the feared consequences of panic attacks are the problem (e.g., fear that a pounding heart indicates an oncoming heart attack). A person is diagnosed with panic disorder when they have experienced regular panic attacks (including ones that come out of the blue) or when they live in fear of having another panic attack.

Source: Anxiety Disorders Association of BC

Benzodiazepine Addiction

Benzodiazepines -- minor tranquillizers such as Valium or Ativan -- are often prescribed to treat panic disorder and to help relieve anxiety, stress or sleeping problems. These pills may be helpful when used as part of a larger coping strategy. However, their use must be limited and carefully supervised since prolonged use of these drugs can result in dependency and severe withdrawal symptoms.

Other facts about Canadians with panic disorder

According to a Statistics Canada survey released in 2003, we know more about people living with  panic disorder in Canada. Among the findings:

Source: Statistics Canada
 

If you are concerned about panic attacks/disorders and want help in managing them, it might help for you to speak with your family physician or an EFAP counsellor.  Call your EFAP provider directly 1-8---481-5511 to make a supportive, confidential appointment, or check out our website at: www.walmsley.ca

 

Information in this FACT Sheet has been used with the kind permission of the members of the "Here to Help" website: www.HereToHelp.bc.ca