Your heartbeat is going fast, and at any moment it’s going to come right out of your chest. Your throat is feeling tight, it’s hard to breathe and at any moment you could lose your lunch thanks to the nausea. The overwhelming fear is becoming too much, and at any moment death is around the corner.

This is a common panic attack. If this sounds like an experience you’ve had, you may be one of the many who have a panic disorder. A panic disorder is just one of the many categories of anxiety disorder. You will find that 2-3% of anxiety sufferers are afflicted by this condition. However, around 30% of the patients will go through a panic attack at one point in their lives.

Panic disorder is a somewhat misunderstood condition. No one knows exactly why it occurs or what makes some people more susceptible to it. It tends to appear in the teenage years and early adulthood. Statistically, more women are diagnosed with the disorder.

It’s also important to understand that the symptoms won’t always be the same either. They can last only a few minutes or even a half hour. The only way you can figure out whether you’re actually having a panic attack is by looking at the symptoms. Whether it’s chest pain, difficulty breathing, feeling the eventual doom around the corner, and a host of other you’re most likely having one. Then again, they can come out of nowhere.

Sufferers may begin to avoid the activities or places that they associate with their panic attack. In some cases, they may become agoraphobic, scared to leave their own homes, preferring to remain in comfortable, familiar surroundings. However, this doesn’t always resolve the problem. Left untreated, panic disorder can have a widespread effect on not only the sufferer, but others around them.

Research has found some potential causes of panic disorder. If the person previously had a bad experience, they may relate any symptoms experienced then as a harbinger of bad things to come.

The good news is there are several treatments for panic disorder. However, it’s important to find the right one for you. One angle is when your doctor prescribes anti-depressants. We definitely don’t recommend going this route, simply because they’ve pretty much been proven not to work. Instead you will end up covering up the real issue. Plus you have to think about the side effects and possible addiction.

If you already deny medication, then a natural approach may be more suitable. Things like proper rest, exercise and dieting can play major roles in anxiety disorder. Did you know getting 8-10 hours of sleep each night can reduce anxiety by 50%? There are some really good self-help books worth reading regarding these benefits and solutions.

There are also experts who believe stress is a major player in panic disorder. In order to combat this you have to look at the various stress relievers available. For instance, exercise is a great choice. While it will help your stress levels, it will also help you maintain a healthy body weight, which is important for a proper hormone balance.

Food is another important area. The research over the years suggests that some foods increase anxiety. Some things you might want to stay away from are coffee, dairy products, refined, sugar, honey, and maple syrup. The best thing to do is keep a food log.

Just relaxing can also be helpful. Just being relaxed can actually diminish the anxiety and fear. This will allow the nerves to become more stable, and help with those stressful situations. A good combatant for this is Yoga and meditation. Oh, and let’s not forget about aromatherapy, which relaxes you and keeps the stress at bay.

Granted, it’s possible this won’t cure your panic disorder. However, it can reduce and control your panic attacks. The idea is to have as much of a normal life as you can.

Meanwhile, Julie U. Stevenson has endured panic attacks for fourteen years. We recommend taking a look at her story by visiting here website: Panic Attacks and find out how she was able to rid herself of this burden and get her life back.