I'm sure this is the one thought that is constantly in your mind if you suffer from panic attacks. They are an incredibly frightening experience. The feeling of being out of control and powerless in this situation can leave you scared and vunerable.

Panic attacks can often strike out of the blue, adding to your fear with generally no warning signs.

It is very difficult to block out the fear of panic attacks as you know what to expect if you have already experienced one. But panic attacks are very common. As many as 10% of the population can be affected in a single year.

A particularly stressful time in your life can bring on an attack for example a big promotion at work, getting ready to give a presentation or having financial troubles. An individual may just experience an isolated incident once in their life but for many others, the attacks can continue.

A small number of people will go on to develope panic disorder, characterised by the ongoing occurrence of unexpected and severe panic attacks along with high levels of anxiety and fear of fear itself, the panic attack, if that makes sense.

To get back to a normal daily routine and live without constant worry of panic, it is necessary to escape from the fear of panic attacks itself. This is not an easy loop to break free from without some kind of help though some people do seem to manage it.

While your lifestyle might not be the cause of your panic attacks, it can contribute to the amount of stress you are under. It is important to get the balance right and not put yourself under too much pressure. Try and have a good look at how you can improve things for yourself.

Once you gain an understanding of what panic attacks are all about, and that you will not come to any harm, your fear of panic attacks should be greatly reduced. You will recover from having attacks, hopefully sooner rather than later.