What is Panic Disorder?

What is Panic?

Panic is a normal human response in certain situations. We share the capacity for panic with most of the animal kingdom. When we are confronted with a dangerous or frightening situation, adrenalin and related chemicals are released into the bloodstream. Our heart rate goes up, we begin to breathe faster, and our blood pressure increases. We may feel excited, nervous or anxious.

This is known as the ‘fight-or-flight’ mechanism. When confronted with danger, such as a fire or an animal attack, it is very useful for the body to be prepared. It will need to overcome the problem somehow, or failing that, run away. Blood and energy are diverted to the brain, muscles and heart. In a more extreme situation, the body also attempts to streamline itself by removing any unnecessary weight. We then feel like going to the bathroom, or even vomiting.

Unfortunately, like many animals, our natural fear response can overflow into panic. The instinct for self-preservation is so strong that we may act completely out of character. For instance, a fire in a crowded building can cause widespread panic. Some people will trample others in their rush to escape. Panic is an extremely exaggerated form of fear. Eventually, panic will lead to feelings of faintness, as the body is unable to sustain such a high level of anxiety. Most sufferers of panic disorder complain of such faintness.

When Does Panic Become a Disorder?

We all have the capacity to panic given an appropriately frightening situation. A sufferer of panic disorder, though, will panic at inappropriate times. For example, a sufferer may feel panic at the thought of sitting on a crowded bus, which is not an especially dangerous situation. Many have a fear of supermarket shopping, particularly on their own. Sometimes, the disorder becomes so severe that sufferers are afraid to go outside. Some may even begin to have panic attacks in their own home.

There are important distinctions between panic disorder and specific phobias, for example, fear of spiders. Many people are terrified of spiders, sometimes to the point where it impacts on their lifestyle. However, that type of panic is related to a very specific stimulus. The arachnophobia sufferer will calm down the instant that the spider is removed.

Panic disorder sufferers, on the other hand, have panic attacks because of non-specific, internally generated fear. This fear might manifest as agoraphobia (fear of the outside world) or social phobia. It might only occur in certain places, like buses or supermarkets. Panic sufferers may be terrified that they will faint at the train station, or that they will need the bathroom when they are in an important meeting. The real source of panic is a deep-seated fear of making a fool of themselves.

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