When the identical feelings of panic and horror come to surface with no valid reasons and when they occur in a perfectly safe surroundings (while jogging on the street or watching a movie at the local cinema) you do not have to be a doctor to realize that something is wrong with your health. Experiencing a few of such episodes in relatively short time frame (a few weeks or months) can be a sign that the person has developed panic disorder.

At the very beginning the patients become extremely frightened and confused. The non psychological signs of panic disorder that can include palpitations, nausea, shortness of breath, dizziness, excessive sweating, jelly legs etc. make the sufferer to believe that something entirely different is going on inside their bodies. People usually ask for help at the wrong places. They go to a whole range of different doctors undergoing numerous checks and tests because they are convinced that the problem is with their heart, lungs, blood pressure and so on. The mental health practitioner is usually last on their list to visit.

During the panic attack victims might believe that they have some kind of the malignant disease, they are going to die on the spot, going mad or to lose their mind. Panic attack might occur every time when the patients find themselves in a specific situation or it can just hit without a clear cause regardless of the situation. A fair number of patients suffering from panic disorder also develop agoraphobia (fear of wide-open or jammed places from which in a case of panic attack would be hard to flee the scene or to seek and receive help.)

Panic attacks can even strike while sleeping. Hot weather also plays a role in panic disorder because patients experience more panic attacks during the warm summer months. The main reasons for this are that warm weather accelerates pulse, induces dizziness and dehydration. Also, during these months people are more likely to spend their time outdoors and therefore have a much higher prospect of running into unacquainted and unpleasant situations and places.

Although the real causes of panic disorder are unknown, some researches have concluded that certain groups of people are more likely to suffer of this disorder than the others. This group includes people who are shy by nature and who tend is to be worried and over concerned about every aspect of their lives. They constantly question their own abilities and are never sure if they are able to complete their tasks and responsibilities. The signs of their instability and fears are often visible from their early childhood (blushing, sweaty palms, palpitations, not feeling comfortable in front of older, unknown people or when confronted by authorities.) Those children spend a lot of time daydreaming and imagining things and possess no agonistic spirit and behavior. While sleeping they may also experience dreadful dreams and have accidents with bed wetting. Their perception of other individuals is somewhat naive because they cannot observe the hidden intentions of mean people. Even after repetitive and numerous disappointments they do not change their behavior.

It is essential to remember that panic disorder is very common mental health problem in our society. Although individuals that show some of the previously mentioned symptoms in their childhood have a higher chance of developing panic disorder in their maturity, not everyone will. On the other hand, some very strong people that are easygoing and have no obvious difficulties in their lives could be hit by this condition with no warnings or a reasonable explanation.