How long does panic disorder typically last?

Hi – for some people panic attacks occur seemingly out of nowhere, and go away as fast. But for others panic disorder is something that they have to deal with for many years or their entire lifetime.

Part of the challenge is that the causes of panic disorder are not completely understood (no mental health condition is actually!). There’s quite a bit of evidence from clinical studies that the condition may result from a genetic imbalance of the the neurotransmitter serotonin. Of all the anxiety disorders, Panic Disorder has been the most extensively studied from a genetic standpoint, and family and twin studies have consistently demonstrated that PD runs in families. Studies have found that an individual is 8 times more likely to develop Panic Disorder if a family member has been diagnosed with it. Other risk factors for Panic Disorder include: alcohol, smoking, or drinking large amounts of coffee or other caffeinated beverages; taking medications known to trigger panic attacks, such as those used to treat asthma or heart problems; having mitral valve prolapse, a heart condition in which one of the valves in the heart does not close as it should; and experiencing an episode of major depression.

Current thinking is that if you are having panic attacks more than a couple times a week, that an antidepressant might be a better treatment strategy than a benzodiazepine sedative like Xanax. A newer SSRI like Lexapro (Escitalopram) seems to work well for a lot of people with panic, and is a relatively "clean" med in terms of side effects compared with other antidepressants.

Good to hear that you are doing therapy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is generally viewed as the most effective form of psychotherapy for treating panic attacks. CBT has been found to reduce sypmtoms in 70-90% of individuals with Panic Disorder and agoraphobia. CBT involves the use of such techniques as thought-stopping, gradual challenging of irrational behaviors, identifying triggers and separating them from the attacks themselves, systematic desensitization that is focused on the physical sensations of a panic attack, etc.

Hang in there…panic disorder is considered to be one of the most treatable of the anxiety disorders, and you can have every reasonable expectation that your attacks will lessen with time and treatment.

Sorry but I think this is something you will have for the rest of your life. Celexa works well for panic disorder in my opinion.

Keep getting therapy. These things don’t go away overnight. Just keep trying and maybe it will go. Its all up to you.

I also have this disorder and I control it with SSRI medication which helped me. I’ve stopped because I feel better….which by the way gradually came off it. I usually start up on medication when it starts up and then stop.

I personally think well by my experience that it will always be with me.I’ve had since the age of 18. I may have them constantly for like 5 months than the rest of the year nothing, then all of a sudden it starts again. I don’t know if I should go to therapy to actually have it gone or I don’t even know if it’s actually possible for it to go away completely. So, now I will just have to wait and see for the other answers to see if it has been possible for someone else.

my hubands longest attack was an hour and a half he has only been having them two months get a copy of the secret book or dvd it might help

Hey I feel you on this one. At first it lasts long because it might not be treated well. Trust me, I went through the same thing. And ignore people saying you’ll have it for the rest of your life. This is NOT TRUE! When I first got it, I was put on something similar to Xanax. It’s called Clonazepam. That is JUST to calm you down though, to relieve the panic attack. Now the REAL medicine you NEED to take if you want to get better is, yea, an SSRI. and they DO work. But it will take about 2 weeks to work. You need to get on this ASAP. Im serious. I know what it’s like. Personally "Lexapro" works wonders for me. Like i said it takes a couple of weeks, NOT days. Make an appointment with a Psychiatrist. You are NOT crazy. This can be resolved. After this try the Lucina Bassid program. Google it. This can help you in many ways but first you need to get on the meds. Your future is waiting and you CAN overcome it. I still do get it from time to time, yes i do, but its not as bad as when it started. But mostly do to stuff that triggered it. Thats another thing, try to find what REALLY triggers it. Being around people often can also help. Good luck and dont give up = )