Anxiety disorders affect millions of Americans at some point in their lives. Feeling anxiety in stressful situations, such as public speaking, is normal and natural. However, for some people, reactions to stress go beyond what is considered to be normal. Anxiety panic disorders are an extreme form of anxiety affecting at least six million Americans. These illnesses can be debilitating for some people, but they are often treatable.

The main characteristic of an anxiety panic disorder is the panic attack. These attacks can happen in response to specific stress factors, or they can occur spontaneously. The sufferer may experience shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sweating and nausea, and may feel as if they are about to lose their mind. Often, the person suffering an anxiety/panic attack will end up in the emergency room because they think they are having a heart attack.

The medical tests the person undergoes can often make their anxiety worse, as they fear that something is seriously wrong with them. If a person suffers panic attacks frequently, then they may develop some sort of phobia, particularly if the attacks occur in a specific location, such as elevators. Fear of having panic attacks will often lead the sufferer to avoid specific situations or locations. Some people will develop agoraphobia and can become housebound, as they fear leaving their homes.

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