Hi Warren,
Although a person's thoughts have a major influence on this (one of the reasons why cognitive behaviour therapy has shown to be so effective), please remember that Panic Disorder is real.
Panic disorder is a chronic, relapsing, often debilitating condition that can have devastating effects on a person's work, family, and social interactions. Because its symptoms often mimic a variety of other medical conditions panic disorder frequently goes undiagnosed. It is not uncommon for people with panic disorder to see as many as 10 different doctors, undergo many unnecessary tests, and suffer for years before obtaining a correct diagnosis.
While roughly 10% of the population will experience an anxiety-related disorder at some time in their life, perhaps as many as 5% of adults will experience panic disorder. Three million American adults - at least one in sixty-three - have or will have panic disorder. Most of them will develop it in their late teens or early to mid twenties.
Casey
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The Panic Center Support Team