My First Panic Attack

Why Would I Ever Need A Cure For Panic Attacks

Many people who first experience panic attacks are not aware of what the term is, nor the meaning of anxiety and panic disorder. When I actually became aware of panic disorders, it was quite inadvertent. I had one myself, in the middle of the night. 

I was an EMT back then, and was quite body-conscious, I understood heart rate and certain other factors, and I just knew I was having a heart attack. I woke my husband to say good-bye to him, and called 911. I felt that all my internal organs were shutting down, and felt as though I was falling, as in a nightmare. I found myself weeping, completely terrified, sweating profusely, and even sudden diarrhea. I just felt like I was really dying. 

My personal experience with anxiety and panic disorder was one of the most traumatic moments of my life. I continued to have them, and after a few more visits to the hospital, a kindly doctor took pity on me, and spent a moment explaining what a panic attack was. To say the least I was relieved. At least I could put a name on these experiences. Anxiety and panic attack disorder. OK. What do I do to stop panic attacks, then? 

The first thing I did was to call a psychiatrist and made an appointment to get panic attack treatment…I just knew there was something seriously wrong with me. When I went in to see her, she asked me if I had ever had any sort of traumatic situation in my life. Well, actually, yes I did. It was in my younger days, and being a 42 year-old woman, it amazed me that my mind would go back that far, and I would have this issue to face. 

My doctor explained that there were millions of people out there who experience the same thing, that I was not alone. I was so relieved to know that. I wanted at that point to find out what I needed to do to stop panic attacks, then. She began with some relaxation exercises, deep-breathing, meditation, and other exercises. Also, listening to Relaxation CDs and that began to put me on the road to recovery. (Somebody needs to find a real cure for panic attacks)

I will admit that it took me a while to understand that I could control the anxiety and panic disorder, and to be able to put them into effect. I knew that it was up to me to begin to stop panic attacks and be able to live without them altogether. I was on the way to recovery. 

My panic attack treatment was a success. I feel so much more in control, now, and I know that if I ever begin to have the symptoms, I can control and eliminate it from the instant it begins. What a relief! A cure for panic attacks is in my grasp.

-Jenny Walsh

Anxiety Attack Statistics

Why is There Such A Need Tin Find A Cure For Panic Attacks?

Prevalence of Anxiety disorder: approximately 2.4 million Americans (NIMH)
Prevalence Rate: approx 1 in 113 or 0.88% or 2.4 million people in USA
Incidence (annual) of Panic disorder: 1.7% of US adults annually (NIMH)
Incidence Rate: approx 1 in 58 or 1.70% or 4.6 million people in USA
Incidence extrapolations for USA for Anxiety disorder: 4,624,000 per year,
385,333 per month, 88,923 per week, 12,668 per day, 527 per hour, 8 per minute, 0 per second.
Lifetime risk for Panic disorder: 3 million Americans (NIMH); 1.6% adults (USSG)
Prevalence of Anxiety disorder: Anxiety disorder strikes between 3 and 6 million Americans, and is twice as common in women as in men.1
Incidence of Panic disorder: About 1.7% of the adult U.S. population ages
18 to 54 – approximately 2.4 million Americans – has anxiety panic disorder in a given year. 2
Prevalence of Anxiety disorder discussion: Approximately 2.4 million American adults
ages 18 to 54, or about 1.7 percent of people in this age group in a given year, have anxiety disorder. 3

In the United States, 1.6 percent of the adult population, or more than 3 million people, will have anxiety panic disorder at some time in their lives.4

Prevalence statistics about Anxiety Panic disorder: The following statistics relate to the prevalence of Anxiety Panic disorder:

3 million American adults (NIMH)

1.7% of the adult U.S. population ages 18 to 54 (NIMH) 

1. excerpt from Panic Disorder: NWHIC
2. excerpt from Facts about Panic Disorder: NIMH
3. excerpt from The Numbers Count: NIMH
4. excerpt from Understanding Panic Disorder: NIMH

All of this information underscores our need for a real cure for panic attacks.