Panic disorder is one of several anxiety disorders that involve an intense, abrupt and oftentimes debilitating period of discomfort and fear. Panic disorders affect millions of men and women of all ages, and can be triggered by several situations or circumstances, real or imagined.

There are several criteria that must be fulfilled in order to declare someone as having a panic disorder. According to the late Dr. Gerald Klerman, member of the World Psychiatric Association and author of "Panic Anxiety and Its Treatments", the DSM-III-R (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) specifies some criteria that must be met before officially declaring someone as suffering from panic disorder. The basics of the criteria are as follows:

The first criterion is that one or more incident of panic attack should have occurred in a situation that is not considered to normally cause anxiety. This involves, but is not limited to, situations like relaxing at home, eating dinner, or cleaning a room. In addition, the person cannot be the center of attention when the panic attack occurred.

The next condition is that four attacks must have occurred in a period of four weeks or the person must experience continuous fear after an attack has occurred. Fear can be indicated by paranoia, restlessness, and difficulty in sleeping.

Third, during a panic attack the person must also have experienced at least four of the following symptoms: trembling or shaking; sweating; shortness of breath; dizziness; depersonalization; numbness or tingling; hot flashes; fear of dying; chest pain or discomfort; accelerated heart rate; nausea; choking; and fear of going crazy.

During a panic attack, the suffer must also experience at least four of the symptoms above in rising intensity within ten minutes after experiencing the first symptom. At this point, suffers may feel confused and out of control.

The last condition states that the panic attack should not have been caused by stimulant drugs such as caffeine and amphetamines and by other medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism. A person should undergo further tests and diagnosis if he or she is taking supplements or stimulants in order to ascertain the existence of panic disorder.

Panic disorder is just one of several anxiety disorders that affect millions of people every year. Panic disorder can become a problem in someone's life if it interferes with social relationships, or limits the person's ability to work or live a fulfilling life. If you or someone you know is suffering from panic disorder, there are several treatment options available. Nobody has to suffer from the effects of extreme anxiety and panic attacks for the rest of their lives.

The effectiveness of treatment options will vary on a case to case basis. Medical intervention is only needed in a few, extreme cases. Typical treatments may involve a change in lifestyle or behavior, formulating and following a nutritional plan, getting enough sleep and rest, and learning healthy ways to handle stress.

Millions of people suffer from panic disorders that can occur when in public or just travelling away from home. Now there is a drug free anxiety treatment that can help you to overcome the unsettling thoughts that may lead to panic attacks.