Panic attacks that come with panic anxiety disorder are very severe. The person experiencing such an attack will be sure they are dying in that moment even though there is usually very little chance of physical harm from the attack. The person in question will feel as if they have chest pains or are having a heart attack, they may feel unreasonable terror and think they are about to die. They can develop tremors and numbness in the fingers, toes, arms and legs, and they can become dizzy with shortness of breath. The subject will have chills or hot flashes, will feel as if they are choking and may hyperventilate, having a racing heart beat, and may feel as if they are going to lose their mind.

There are a few things that lead to panic anxiety disorders. However, some can have these things in their lives without developing panic while others will get the disorder and need to be treated. It comes with other types of anxiety for some, doubling the problem. Women are twice as likely as men to get this condition, and there have been studies that point to genetics playing a role in this as well. Large amounts of stress that do not let up and traumatic situations can lead to someone developing panic disorder and attacks. Panic attacks generally happen to those in teenage and early adult years, but as with everything else, there are exceptions.

There are some common things that happen to those with panic disorder other than having panic attacks. Those with this condition may avoid any situation that they find stressful for fear of having a panic attack in front of others. They may end up relying on others for financial support and become addicted to substances like drugs and alcohol. They will avoid things they used to love to do, and may not wander more than a few miles from home. They are also prone to going to doctors or emergency rooms more often, and may attempt suicide.

If you or someone you know is experiencing any signs of panic anxiety disorder, know that treatment is out there and it can be very successful in returning someone to their normal life. There is no need to spend life worried and anxious when the levels of stress involved become unhealthy. There are prescriptions and life changes that can help, along with therapy and some natural remedies.

Chronic or generalized anxiety disorder are somewhat similar in that they can be overwhelming and are usually dealt with on a daily basis. This disorder can severely limit life and can interfere with work and relationships. A person with chronic anxiety is anxious about just about anything and everything. They are prone to excessive worry about things that are real problems, but the severity is greatly exaggerated in their mind. They may also worry about things that are not really problems – but they seem very real to the person with this condition.

Social anxiety disorder is a bit different, but the body can react in the same way. Those with this condition have anxiety in relation to relating to others in social and work environments. In some cases, the social anxiety is so bad that the person with the condition becomes agoraphobic and will not leave the house. They fear that people are judging and making fun of them no matter where they go or what they are doing or that they are going to do something to make a fool of themselves. These thoughts are greatly exaggerated, but they can lead to panic and fear. Most choose to avoid people rather than deal with the symptoms that occur when they go out in public.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder you may associate with veterans who have returned from war, but it is also something that anyone who has gone through a traumatic event can develop. This happens when someone has gone through a severe physical or emotional trauma like a car accident, death of a child, or anything else that causes a person to develop severe anxiety. Those with this condition often have anxiety in relation to the event, and any small trigger that reminds them of what happened. This can be severely debilitating.

Panic disorder can stand alone but may also be a part of any of the conditions listed above. This disorder often leads to a person being prone to panic attacks when confronted with certain situations that cause anxiety. They may have these in public on occasion, and the fear of doing that again can lead to even more attacks. Though panic attacks are generally non-harmful, the physical sensations can lead a person to believe they are having a heart attack or other serious medical problem. The symptoms of a panic attack are scary. A person may believe they can not breathe, they can shake uncontrollably, and they feel sheer terror. They may also have numbness in the extremities, feel hot or cold, and have chest pain.