A panic attack is a state of intense anxiety that often occurs unpredictably and without a specific trigger. The anxiety reaches its peak within 10 minutes, sometimes with fear of death, and then may dissipate. Panic attacks often come with various physical symptoms, such as chest pain, suffocation and shortness of breath, dizziness and feelings of alienation. Many people experience at least one panic attack in their lives and about 2-4% of the population develop a panic disorder. This is a condition in which the person is constantly fearful of a new panic attack.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) facilitated by a qualified Psychologist has been shown to greatly help people with panic disorders. In CBT, the person learns to face their fears in a protected setting and to behave contrary to the phobia using specific strategies and tricks with the aim of normalising their fear reaction.
Panic attacks can also occur as part of a depressive disorder. In this case, it is generally advised that symptoms of depression should be first addressed.

Agoraphobia is characterized by the fear of situations or places from which it is difficult to escape or where help is difficult to obtain.

Because the fear reaction is exaggerated this can increase the risk of an associated panic attack, and those affected tend to avoid situations and places that are associated with this fear. This can greatly restrict a sufferers interactions including their ability to work, social relationships and everyday activities such as shopping for groceries or using public transport. 

People with a social phobia fear situations in which they are potentially the focus of attention and where they might embarrass themselves. For these people, there is a constant and sometimes debilitating perception of being negatively evaluated by other people in their environment.

Social anxiety is usually accompanied by physical symptoms such as blushing, trembling, soft knees, shaky voice or increased bowel movements.  These symptoms often exacerbate the feeling and increase the fear of embarrassment. Constant avoidance of these situations can lead to tremendous social, school, study or work restrictions, resulting in a feeling of isolation.

This form of anxiety is usually limited to narrowly defined situations.

A person with one of these specific phobias usually feels some sort of physical reaction, such as trembling, hot flushes, weak knees, shortness of breath.

As with other anxiety disorders, repeated exposure therapy as part of  Cognitive Behavioural Therapy can be beneficial.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) applies to people who have a constant feeling of anxiety and worry towards a wide range of everyday tasks. An example of this would be someone who feels persistent worry that they or someone close to them will suffer an acute illness or accident. This often manifests itself as an endless chain of negative emotion and stress.

People with Generalized Anxiety Disorder may rely on excessive reinsurance behaviours, such as relying on friends, family members or medical professionals to reassure them of their safety and remind them they are not experiencing a perceived threat or illness.

GAD usually results in physical reactions such as nervousness, muscle tension, tremor, drowsiness, palpitations, dizziness or abdominal pain.