While most people have occasional periods of anxiety and stress from time to time, some people suffer from severe, debilitating, and unpredictable experiences of fear that cause them to have symptoms such as feeling as if they are having a heart attack, like they have lost their ability to breathe, or even that they are going to die. People that have these kinds of experiences are having panic attacks and may be suffering from a clinical condition called panic disorder. Panic disorder and other mental disorders are diagnosed by mental health professionals using a diagnostic manual called the DSM-5*. Symptoms of panic disorder are described using DSM-5 criteria in this article.

Panic attacks are defined as a sudden overwhelming feeling of fear that occurs without warning and may erupt when no real danger is present. A panic attack typically lasts less than 10 minutes and dissipates within half an hour. For a professional to make the diagnosis, the patient must describe four or more of the following symptoms during the panic attack:

• Rapid heartbeat
• Excessive sweating
• Shaking or trembling sensations
• Smothering sensations or shortness of breath
• Choking sensations
• Discomfort in the chest
• Abdominal discomfort or nausea
• Feelings of dizziness, lightheartedness, or that the individual is going to faint
• Chills or hot flashes
• Tingling of the hands, feet, or other body parts
• Feeling that the person is unreal, or that things around them are unreal
• Fear of dying, fear that they are going to go crazy or lose control
• Choking sensations
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Nausea or abdominal distress
• Feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
• Chills or heat sensations

A patient with panic disorder has panic attacks with some regularity. They may become worried about the possibility of having more attacks, or they may alter their behavior in an attempt to avoid the chance of having an unwanted attack. Sometimes people with panic disorder may avoid social situations or other environments where panic attacks have occurred in the past to try to maintain control of their symptoms. If this avoidance becomes severe, the person may develop a related condition called agoraphobia. In agoraphobia, the person will go to great lengths to avoid certain situations such as shopping malls, elevators, bridges, or airports. In severe cases, the individual may be unable to leave the house. Work, school, relationships, and overall quality of life can be severely impacted as a result of either panic disorder or agoraphobia.

If you or a loved one is suffering from symptoms of panic disorder, treatments are available to help decrease the severity of these symptoms and assist in getting back to normal functioning. Psychotherapy, specifically cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is widely used to control symptoms of panic disorder. Medications are also useful as a treatment for panic disorder. Certain medications can partially or entirely block panic attacks. Effective medication management allows the psychotherapist and patient to work on overcoming anxiety, depression, relationship problems, substance abuse, and other related problems.

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* American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. American Psychiatric Association, Arlington, VA.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a psychological disorder that involves a continuous pattern of difficulties sustaining focus and attention, hyperactive or impulsive behavior. While children may be diagnosed with the inattentive type of ADHD, the hyperactive type, or a combined inattentive/hyperactive type of ADHD, adults most commonly experience problems with inattention but not hyperactivity. An adult diagnosis of ADHD requires that the individual was showing several symptoms of ADHD before the age of 12.

Symptoms of ADHD in Adults

There are over a dozen symptoms associated with an adult diagnosis of ADHD. Some of the more common ones are:

Concentration Difficulties: Excessive distractibility and difficulty focusing, completing tasks, or listening intently. Individuals with ADHD often struggle with these symptoms find it difficult to focus on details of their work or the flow of conversations, which can lead to an increase in inaccurate or partially completed work and problems in their relationships.
Disorganization: Forgetfulness, misplacing items, trouble meeting deadlines or arriving to places on time, and difficulties maintaining organization of living and working spaces.
Hyperactivity: Feelings of restlessness or boredom, difficulties with feeling calm or sitting still, and experiences of racing thoughts and the need to be physically active during inappropriate times.
Impulsivity: Difficulty with self-control. This may be observed by patterns of interrupting others, spontaneous outbursts that seem out of context to the situation or which others experience as offensive or irritating, or exhibiting socially inappropriate or addictive behaviors.
Hyperfocused: Mentally absorbed in preferred activities or interests that the individual finds appealing, causing him or her to neglect responsibilities or tasks that need to be completed.
Emotion Instability: Symptoms of depression or mood swings, struggles with tolerating frustration, feelings of irritation, and changes in temperament and self-esteem.

Differential Diagnosis

Most of the symptoms listed here are shared by other psychiatric disorders such as bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, drug and alcohol addiction, and other conditions. There are several medical conditions that also can cause many of these symptoms. To make things even more complicated, patients can share two or more diagnoses that have some overlapping symptoms, such as ADHD, bipolar disorder, and diabetes. Because a comprehensive accurate diagnosis is essential to providing excellent care, a diagnosis should only be made by a trained, licensed mental health professional such as a psychologist or a psychiatrist.

Having ADHD can cause a person to develop a variety of personal problems that can affect their lives, such as relational problems, difficulties maintaining a quality work environment, financial instability, and health concerns. A mental health professional can also assess these life stresses and help the person begin to develop a plan to get control over their life.

How to Get Help

If you or someone you live is diagnosed with ADHD, a variety of treatments can be used to help achieve a satisfying and functional life. Standard treatment for ADHD involved medication and psychotherapy. Group therapy and educational or career assistance can also assist those who need additional resources.