Panic and Anxiety Blog

Symptoms and Diagnosis of Panic Attacks

2012-01-13T14:34:00.000-08:00

Diagnostic criteria

DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria for Panic Attack

A discrete period of intense fear or discomfort, in which four (or more) of the following symptoms developed abruptly and reached a peak within 10 minutes:

Palpitations, or accelerated heart rate
Sweating
Trembling or shaking
Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
Feeling of choking
Chest pain or discomfort
Nausea or abdominal distress
Feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
De-realization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from oneself)
Fear of losing control or going insane
Sense of impending death
Paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensations)
Chills or hot flashes

Note that while the DSM-IV-TR only lists the 13 specific symptoms above, it has been proposed that culture-specific symptoms (e.g., tinnitus, neck soreness, headache, and uncontrollable screaming or crying) be added to the DSM-V diagnostic criteria for a panic attack.

Panic & Anxiety List of Support Groups

2010-08-24T09:29:00.000-07:00

List of Panic and Anxiety Attack Support Groups

Resources:

Abused Empowered Survive Thrive

Anxiety Friends

Anxiety Zone

Yahoo Support Groups – Anxiety

Anxiety, Addiction and Depression Treatments

Anxietytalks

AvoidantPersonalityGroup

BP-Panic

Centre for Emotional Well-Being

Dental Fear Central

Depersonalization Home

Depression and Anxiety Recovery.com

Families of Kids with Mood and Anxiety Disorders

National Phobics Society

Open Arms

Panic and Anxiety Connection

Pittsburgh Social Anxiety Support Group

panicawaytoday

click here

New Treatments for Anxiety and Panic Attacks

2009-06-16T11:40:00.000-07:00

Intensive Exposure Therapy

Virtual Reality Therapy

Panic Attack Checklist

2008-11-26T10:53:00.000-08:00

Is This A Panic Attack?

-did your heart race, pound or skip?
Yes
No
-did you sweat?
Yes
No
-did you tremble or shake?
Yes
No
-were you short of breath or have trouble catching your breath?
Yes
No
-did you feel as if you were choking?
Yes
No
-did you have chest pain or pressure?
Yes
No
-did you have nausea or an upset stomach or the feeling that you were going to have diarrhea?
Yes
No
-did you feel dizzy, unsteady, or like you might faint?
Yes
No
-did things around you seem unreal or did you feel detached from things around you or detached from part of your body?
Yes
No
-were you afraid you were going crazy or might lose control?
Yes
No
-were you afraid that you might die?
Yes
No
-did you have tingling or numbness in parts of your body?
Yes
No
-did you have flushes (hot flashes) or chills?
Yes
No

Downloadable Brochure About Panic and Anxiety Attacks

2008-11-24T09:12:00.000-08:00

Anxiety Disorders affect about 40 million American adults age 18 years and older (about 18%) in a given year,1 causing them to be filled with fearfulness and uncertainty. Unlike the relatively mild, brief anxiety caused by a stressful event (such as speaking in public or a first date), anxiety disorders last at least 6 months and can get worse if they are not treated.

Anxiety disorders commonly occur along with other mental or physical illnesses, including alcohol or substance abuse, which may mask anxiety symptoms or make them worse. In some cases, these other illnesses need to be treated before a person will respond to treatment for the anxiety disorder. Effective therapies for anxiety disorders are available, and research is uncovering new treatments that can help most people with anxiety disorders lead productive, fulfilling lives. If you think you have an anxiety disorder, you should seek information and treatment right away.

This booklet will describe the symptoms of anxiety disorders, explain the role of research in understanding the causes of these conditions, describe effective treatments, help you learn how to obtain treatment and work with a doctor or therapist, and suggest ways to make treatment more effective.

The following anxiety disorders are discussed in this brochure:

panic disorder
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
social phobia (or social anxiety disorder)
specific phobias
generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

Each anxiety disorder has different symptoms, but all the symptoms cluster around excessive, irrational fear and dread.

To download this brochure click here

What to Do During A Panic Attack Video

2008-11-20T07:26:00.000-08:00