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Walking down the aisle of the local grocery store, you suddenly feel a hot flash creeping over your body, your hands begin to tremble and a terrifying fear that something is terribly wrong and that you are going to die envelopes your whole being. It’s now hard to breathe and your hands are shaking uncontrollably. You are experiencing a panic attack.

It was totally unexpected, and there was no reason for it to take place. You will be the first to agree with others that it was the scariest thing that has ever happened in your life. Many of the symptoms are the same as those of a heart attack, and that may have been your first thought.

Since nothing frightening is actually happening, the fear that is experienced is completely out of context, and it is totally unreasonable. The fact that the person has no idea what caused the attack often causes them to live in fear that another one may happen when they least expect it. Their lives are never the same again.

Additional symptoms of a panic attack are difficulty breathing, shaking, nausea, chills or hot flashes. The worst part of all is not knowing why the attack occurred and whether or not another one will happen. Many people are so affected by not knowing that they are afraid to return to the place where the attack occurred or to do what they were doing at the time of the attack.

Medical studies have been able to isolate four things that most people who suffer one of these attacks may have in common and that could possibly lead to this type of thing. Since it often occurs in several members of a family it could be a genetic problem. Some brains show an abnormality in an area that could trigger this type of fear. People who drink excessive amounts of alcohol or who consume drugs often experience tremendous fear. Sometimes a major stress has occurred in the person’s life before the panic attack takes place.

Interestingly enough, panic attacks often begin in the later teen years or during early adulthood. Studies have, also, shown that more women are affected by them than men. Five percent of the adult population in the United States suffers from this kind of attack.

Doctors highly recommend that a person seek help soon after they experience their first attack. The longer the problem goes undiagnosed, the more complications the patient can have. They may develop phobias to specific things or to going specific places. Oftentimes, they come to the place that they avoid all social situations for of another attack. Many become depressed and start thinking suicidal thoughts.

Although panic attacks cannot be permanently cured, they can often be controlled. The person can learn relaxation techniques that can help them stop the attacks quite quickly. Medications can be used alone or along with psychotherapy to help the patient adjust.

Panic attacks affect people in terrible ways. They change every aspect of the person’s life and nothing is normal again. By seeing a doctor as soon as possible, the patient has some hope of restoring his well-being.

Do you suffer from an anxiety disorder including panic attack disorder? Check out our guide to all you need to know about panic attacks.