Have you ever had a friend who suffered from a panic attack? A panic or anxiety attack is a feeling of terror that strikes suddenly and repeatedly without warning (Psych Central, 2013). Anxiety is the body's natural response to danger, an automatic alarm that goes off when you feel threatened, under pressure, or faced with a stressful situation (Smith, Robinson, & Segal, 2013). Worrying isn't always a bad thing because it helps you stay aware and focused. But when anxiety is constant or overwhelming, when it interferes with your relationship and activities, it ceases to be functional, that's when you cross the line between normal, productive anxiety and territory of anxiety disorders (Smith et al., 2013). Panic disorder, which affects approximately 2.4 million American adults, most commonly begins in late adolescence and early adulthood (Katz, 2012). Studies have shown that biological and environmental factors play a role in panic attacks. Some factors are family history, brain abnormalities, substance abuse, and major life stress (Katz, 2012). It is more common in men than in women. One theory of panic disorder is that the body's normal "alarm system," the set of mental and physical mechanisms that allow a person to respond to a threat, tends to be triggered unnecessarily when there is no warning. has no danger (Stöppler, 2013). there are no signs of panic attacks because they attack you from stealth; you never know when they will come. Anything can trigger an attack, like giving an important presentation in front of the class or losing your child at the mall. Some people even stop doing daily activities because it gives them anxiety or because they always have the feeling that something terrible is going to happen. Panic attacks usually last a...... middle of paper ......ws Today. Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/8872.phpPsych Central. (2013). Symptoms of panic disorder. Psychology Center. Accessed November 22, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/disorders/panic-disorder-symptoms/Rogge, T., MD. (February 26, 2013). Panic disorder: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. United States National Library of Medicine. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000924.htmSmith, M., M.A., Robinson, L., & Segal, J., Ph.D. (2013, November). Anxiety attacks and anxiety disorders. : Signs, symptoms and treatment. Retrieved from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/anxiety_types_symptoms_treatment.htmStöppler, MC, MD. (September 10, 2013). Panic Attacks (Panic Disorder) Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Signs, Medications, Types - MedicineNet. MedicineNet. Retrieved from http://www.medicinenet.com/panic_disorder/article.htm