Do You Have Panic Disorder?

A panic attack is a discrete period of intense fear or discomfort, usually lasting about 10 minutes, in which four or more of the following symptoms are present: rapid heart rate, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, choking sensations, chest pain, dizziness, nausea, numbing or tingling sensations, chills or hot flashes, feelings of unreality, fear of losing control, or fear of dying. If you’ve experienced a panic attack, please continue.

1. Do your panic attacks occur in some circumstances other than social situations? If so, answer the questions below to see if you have panic disorder.
2. Do you experience recurrent, unexpected panic attacks? By unexpected, we mean they seem to come from "out of the blue."

   Has at least one of these attacks been followed by at least a month-long period of concern about having another panic attack?

   and/or

   Have you worried a great deal about the consequences of a panic attack? ("Am I having a heart attack?" or "Am I going crazy?"

   and/or

   Has your behavior changed since having the panic attack? 

If you answered yes to question #1, and you answered yes to at least one of the questions under #2, you may have panic disorder.