Panic Attacks | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA

Allison's Story

by Allison Kugel

July 12, 2017

allison kugel standing shot_0.jpg At 3 AM on a July 2012 morning, I lay helpless on an emergency room cot, unable to experience any emotion other than fear and the physical sensations that racked my body. My extreme levels of anxiety did not cease; my body showed me no mercy, perhaps because my racing mind did not extend that courtesy to my body. I was wrapped in a backless hospital gown and meagerly strewn blanket that had been nuked in a microwave to keep me warm.

How Love Turns Pain Into Purpose

by Steven C. Hayes, PhD

April 5, 2016

What can we do to prosper when facing pain and suffering in our lives?

Pschologist Steven Hayes describes psychological flexibility in relation to his own harrowing panic disorder

Helping Children Face Their Worries and Fears: Tips from Two Psychologists

Thursday, March 21, 2024 - 13:21

As parents we don’t like or want to see our children struggling. But worries, fears and anxieties are a natural part of life, and we have to understand that children go through these processes just like adults do. But as parents and caregivers, we should also be in tune with the degree, severity, frequency, and nature of our children’s fears and worries and know when a child might need some help.

March 6, 2024

Your College Mental Health Packing List: A Free Live Q&A in Partnership with Lumate Health

Sarah Olivo, PhD and

Michael Detweiler, PhD and

Join ADAA and Lumate Health March 6 for an insightful free, live Q&A public webinar for students and parents. It can be exciting to get a college packing list. And yes, picking out dorm decorations is fun, but those new Twin XL sheets aren't going to help manage the highs and lows that come with the transition to college.

More Info

Using the Five Senses

by Lauren Marcinek

January 29, 2024

Anxiety can come on randomly at any time—it’s normal! I’ve learned that grounding is the best way to bring yourself back down from an attack. Here is one technique I’ve learned which uses the five senses.

This Is Why

by Bryan Jung

January 17, 2024

With everything that has happened in my life, I’ve come to learn that every second and every moment cannot, and should not, be taken for granted. Anything can happen in a split second and life can instantly change course forever. I make an effort to not just go through, but conquer each and every day.

I Didn't Shower for Weeks

by Kellene Diana

January 11, 2024

Anxiety and depression took over and consumed every aspect of life, I didn’t shower for weeks because I was so pre-occupied with fear and panic!

Crawling Through Fear

by Jimmy Lamanna

January 9, 2024

At the young age of 7 years old, I was diagnosed with agoraphobia. At the time, I didn't understand such a big word. Nobody does when you are that young. As I grew older, things only felt like they were getting worse.

The Ebbs and Flows of My Mental Health Disorders

by Paige Kimball

November 23, 2023

Getting sick was both sudden and gradual. The timeline of my mental health disorder, or rather disorders because I endured several, was so erratic, waxing and waning, often corresponding to a momentous event in my life or the birth of one of my children or the death of a loved one.

Tips for Protecting Yourself and Your Children from Disturbing Media Images

Disturbing media anxiety trauma stress Arash Javanbakht

Monday, October 30, 2023 - 15:14

Limit the depth of exposure to details. People can consume news in limited ways. In other words, learn what’s happening, then stop there. Avoid the urge for disaster voyeurism. If you have heard the story, you might not need to search for the images or the videos; if you have seen them, there is no need to revisit them over and over.

Subscribe to Panic Attacks