Introduction

Panic attacks can't harm you, but they can disrupt your life. If panic attacks are making it hard to live a normal life, and if you're getting them even when there's nothing to be afraid of, then you may have panic disorder. But there are treatments that can help.

We've brought together the best research about panic disorder and weighed up the evidence about how to treat it. You can use our information to talk to your doctor and decide which treatments are best for you.

If you've ever had a panic attack, you'll know how frightening it is. But no matter how alarming your feelings are, it's important to know that they won't harm you. And they usually go away after a few minutes.

If you get a panic attack, you suddenly feel terrified for no reason. You may even feel as though the world is going to end or you're going to die. Your heart may pound. And you may feel sweaty or find it hard to catch your breath. You may also feel dizzy and start to tremble.

If you worry all the time about having an attack and stop doing things you would normally do, you may have what doctors call panic disorder.

You can get treatment for panic disorder. Treatment can help you feel better and live normally again.

Key points for people with panic disorder

• Panic attacks are frightening but they won't harm you.

• If you get panic attacks often, and worry all the time about when you'll have the next one, you may have panic disorder.

• Panic disorder is very common. It affects about 1 in 50 people in the UK.

• Women are more likely than men to get panic disorder.

• People usually start having panic disorder in their late teens or early 20s.

• Most people with panic disorder get better if they have treatment. But the condition may come and go. ^[1]

What's normal?

It's normal to feel scared and panicky when you're in danger. These feelings are your body's in-built protection system. They can save your life when you're in dangerous situations. For example, if you're about to cross the road and a bus is coming towards you, it's fear that makes you react quickly and get out of the way. Fear can also give you extra drive. For example, when you're preparing for an exam, your nerves can give you the push you need to study harder.

Your response to fear involves many parts of your body, including your brain, the rest of your nervous system, your muscles, and your circulatory system. Lots of things happen to your body when you're nervous or scared. ^[2]

• Part of your body is put on high alert. You stop everything else you're doing and focus on the thing you're worried about. Two chemicals in your nervous system are important for this reaction. They are called adrenaline and serotonin.

• Your body gets ready to escape from danger. The chemical adrenaline is pumped into your blood. Adrenaline is sometimes called the 'fight or flight' hormone, because it tells your body to be ready to deal with danger. You might fight an attacker, for example. Or you might move quickly away from a fire.

• Your heart beats faster. This pumps more blood around your body to help your muscles work better and escape danger.

• You may tremble and go pale. The extra adrenaline draws blood away from your skin and redirects it to your muscles, making you more able to fight or run away.

• You may need to urinate or empty your bowels. This is because adrenaline relaxes your bladder and bowels.

All of these reactions are a normal response to stress or fear. And while they're happening, another part of your brain checks to see whether the thing you were afraid of is actually happening. If it doesn't happen, or if the danger passes, your fear responses will fade away.