Panic Disorder is a mental illness which is characterized by sudden onset of intense anxiety aggravated by rapid heat beat, short of breathing, suffocation, gastric abnormalities and unusual fear. This condition is usually starts with suffocation and short of breath but within few minutes it reaches at its peak with the fear of sudden death. Patient suffering from this distressing condition tries to come out of it with all of its capabilities. In some cases patient experience panic attack only once or twice in his whole life but in some cases these attacks are recurrent. Such recurrent or repeated episodes of panic attack points towards the presence of panic disorder.

Normally panic attack lasts from few minutes to several hours but the first ten minutes are considered the actual crucial period which determines its severity and impact. After completing its lasting period attack disappears and patient gets back to his normal life activities. There is no specific timing, age limit or gender involve in panic attack. Anybody, anytime and anywhere can suffer from panic attack however the presence of other type of mental illness or depressive or tense life style aggravates the chances of its happening and severity. Sometimes specific places or situations also acts as trigger in case of panic disorder and suddenly change the surrounding world for the sufferer.

Types of Panic Attack

1- Situational Predisposed Panic Attack

This type of panic disorder is not directly related to a specific situation instead a particular situation can enhance the probability of suffering from an attack. No direct association with certain place or situation is involved in it but the possibility of triggering panic attack increases within certain circumstances. Like a person having no fear of riding can mostly suffer from panic attack during riding.

2- Cued/ Situational Panic Attack

This type of panic disorder is associated with specific situation or circumstances which act as a trigger for panic attack. Patients suffering from situational panic disorder try to keep them away from such situation to prevent the occurrence of panic attack. As long as patient remains in such specific situation his condition becomes more and more pathetic but once he get out of it, such horrible symptoms disappears within few minutes.

3- Spontaneous/ Unexpected Panic Attack

As name indicates this type of panic disorder occurs spontaneously anywhere and anytime with no involvement or presence of specific trigger. While patient is sleeping, walking across the road, watching TV or talking to other persons, panic attack can happen in any situation. In spontaneous panic disorder patient mostly manifests heart attack like symptoms including heart palpitation, suffocation and chest pain etc. that is why sometimes it is taken as heart attack problem which is absolutely wrong.

So whatever the symptoms patient is showing he must be diagnosed by professional physician or psychiatric who can deal it with proper way of treatment rather than mixing it with other physical or psychological problem.