What is panic attacks and panic disorder?

This is a mental health condition consisting of episodes of intense, unfounded fear that generate diverse physical symptoms, even though there is no real cause motivating them.

The fear you can feel during a panic attack is excessive, leading to a total loss of mental control and resulting in physical symptoms so serious that you might feel like you are dying, even if you are not, thus significantly diminishing your quality of life.

No one is exempt from suffering a panic attack in a situation of extreme stress, but when the attacks become recurrent and you even fear their reappearance, we are facing a condition called Panic Disorder.

Potential Risks for Developing Panic Disorder include:

• Family members who suffer from panic attacks.
• Intense stress.
• Traumatic events.
• Smoking.
• Alcoholism.
• Drug addiction.

• Abrupt onset of the attack.
• Progressive development that reaches its climax in a few minutes.
• Extreme fatigue following the attack.
• Feeling like you are in imminent severe danger.
• Extreme fear.
• Palpitations.
• Sensation of a lump in the throat.
• Chills.
• Episodes of suffocation.
• Nausea.
• Abdominal cramps.
• Chest pain.
• Tachycardia (rapid heart rate).
• Excessive sweating.
• Excessive trembling.
• Shortness of breath (insufficient air).
• Headache (migraine).
• Dizziness.
• Numbness.
• Tingling.
• Disconnection from reality (Derealization/Depersonalization).
• Loss of consciousness.
• Irrational fear of suffering a new attack.

After analyzing your symptoms and clinical history, the doctor will perform a physical and psychological examination, and if deemed necessary, they will request other studies to rule out any physical condition.

The treatment to follow is based on psychotherapy and medication, the details of which will be established according to the specific case.

At the Neurological Center, a group of highly trained and certified doctors across various neurological specialties are prepared to assist you with the quality and warmth that characterizes us.

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