Do you suffer from sudden and unexpected bouts of panic symptoms like:

1. Pounding heart.
2. Sweating.
3. Trembling or shaking.
4. Sensations of trouble breathing.
5. Feeling of choking.
6. Chest pain or discomfort.
7. Nausea.
8. Dizziness or lightheaded.
9. Feeling unreal or detached from your self.
10. Fear of losing control or going crazy.
11. Fear of dying.
12. Numbness or tingling sensations.
13. Chills or hot flashes.

If you have 4 or more of these symptoms that suddenly appear all at once, you may be having Panic Attacks. Panic attacks are quite common and can occur in many situations (for example: if someone were to throw snake in your lap, you may get a Panic Attack.).

Many people get Panic Attacks and are not bothered by them. Panic Attacks on their own are not considered to be a medical condition.

However, if these Panic Attacks begin to influence your life or bother you significantly, you may be suffering Panic Disorder.

If you are constantly worried about getting another attack, worrying about losing control, worrying about having a heart attack, worrying about going crazy, or stopped doing some things to prevent another attack, you may be suffering from a medical condition called Panic Disorder. If you become afraid of going into certain situations because you think you won't be able to get out if you get a panic attack, you may be suffering from Agoraphobia.

These places include subways, buses, malls, grocery stores, bridges, driving, grocery stores, movie theatres, restaurants, elevators, crowds, line-ups, being alone, or going out of town. Approximately 2%-5% of the population will suffer from Panic Disorder. It usually develops in young adulthood, but can develop at any age. However, it is unusual to suddenly develop panic attacks after the age of 45.

You should see your family doctor right away if just developed panic attacks after 45 years old. It could be a serious medical condition.

2. Specific Phobia
A phobia is an excessive fear of an object or situation. These include certain animals, insects, heights, seeing blood, injections, storms, water, flying, elevators, enclosed spaces, choking fears or fears of vomit.

Many people will experience fear in the above situations. However, if the fear is severe enough that it affects your ability to work or socialize with your friends and family, you may have a Phobia.

Specific Phobia's are very common. Approximately 5%-10% of the population has a Specific Phobia.

3. Social Phobia
Do you feel scared or anxious when you have to do things in front of people or when you are just around people? Are you scared that you may embarrass or humiliate yourself? Would you avoid these social situations if you had the chance? If you answered yes to all these questions, you may be suffering from Social Phobia.

Social Phobia is more than just shyness. Shyness is a normal human trait and does not interfere significantly with one's life. Social Phobia is a medical condition, which significantly interferes with people's work functioning or social life.

It is a common condition that affects approximately 10%-15% of the population at least once in their lives. It usually begins in the teenage years.

4. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Do you suffer from obsessions? Obsessions are recurrent and intrusive thoughts, images or impulses.

Examples of obsessions include recurrent concerns about being contaminated with germs or dirt, recurrent thoughts that you may not have locked your door or shut off the stove, excessive concerns that you may have hurt someone accidentally, intrusive religious/ sexual / horrific images or impulses to hurt someone you don't want to hurt.

Do you suffer from compulsions? Compulsions are behaviours you have to do a certain way or over and over again, in order to relieve a sense of tension or anxiety.

Examples of compulsions include excessive hand washing, repeated checking of things (for example: lights, doors, appliances, faucets), counting things for no reason, hoarding useless items (like bills, papers, or magazines), doing things in a specific ritual that other people do not do, and making sure things are lined up perfectly or placed in a certain way.

If you have an obsession or compulsion and it bothers you or it significantly interferes with your life you may be suffering from a disease called Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

Approximately 2%-3% of the population suffers from this disease.

5. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
1. Have you ever experienced an event that was overwhelming and traumatic? Examples of traumatic events include being in a war, being tortured, being in a natural disaster (earth quake, flood etc?), assault, rape, or a serious accident.

2. Did you feel extremely scared, helpless or horrified when the event was happening?

3. Do you have difficulties forgetting about the traumatic event? For example, you have constant thoughts about the situation, nightmares about the event, sometimes feel as if it is happening again, or get very nervous when something happens that reminds you of the event.

4. Do you avoid things that might trigger the fear you experienced during the traumatic event? Do you feel emotionally numb?

5. Do you have difficulty with your sleep, get angry easily, have difficulty with your concentration, constantly on edge watching everything around you, or are you easily scared?

If you answered yes to all of the above questions and you find that you have difficulties coping with your life because of these symptoms, you may be suffering from a disease called Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. You should talk to your family doctor about this disease if you think that you may have it. There is treatment available. This is a disease that can affect up to 3% of the population.

6. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Do you find yourself worrying excessively about ordinary things almost every day? For example: Do you worry about your finances when they are fine? Do you worry about your health when you are physically o.k? Do you worry about the health and safety of your loved ones when they are fine? Do you find these worries very difficult to control? Do you suffer from physical symptoms because of these worries? These physical symptoms can include fatigue, difficulties concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, sleep problems or restlessness/feeling on edge. If this sounds like you, you may be suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Generalized Anxiety Disorder is a common disease that can occur in proximately 5% of the population. It usually exists with other conditions such as Major Depression.