A lot of researches and analysis have concluded that there is a good connection between anxiety and panic attacks. The anxiety disorders can be divided into several categories. These categories are as mentioned below:

a) Generalized anxiety disorder

b) Obsessive compulsive disorder

c) Panic disorder

d) Post traumatic stress disorder

e) Social phobia

f) Specific phobia

A panic attack can be referred to as a sudden outburst of fear that can be related to one or many varied symptoms.

When it comes to causes, there are many of them that actually work towards triggering the disorder in an individual. The panic or anxiety can be associated to anything. These attacks are not just restricted to major stressful events or concerns. One can experience anxiety over a loved one, the kind of clothes to wear, a party or speaking to someone.

Panic attacks can be really terrifying. These attacks can occur anywhere, anytime without giving out a warning sign. However, these attacks are more common when you are outside home.

You can experience these attacks inside a shop, while driving a car or even when casually walking down the street. The worst part about this disease is that it can occur even while you are sleeping. This results in you waking up and that too in a state of fear that's overwhelming.

Different people experience these panic attacks in a different way and each attack varies with the situation a person is facing at the time of attack.

When a person faces period of extreme stress, there is a possibility that the stress lead to panic as a result of natural reaction of the body to higher levels of stress. This condition is widely known as the fight or flight reaction.

Experts in the field of medical science have widely accepted this reaction as the main reason behind any panic attack that occurs in a person's lifetime.

It is said that when a person experiences a situation that's extremely stressful or traumatic, the body will definitely react. The situation actually triggers a chemical release into the system of the individual that eventually results into an extreme reaction to the situation.

A panic attack can also occur when the chemicals are sent into the body via reactive stressor. The body does not require these chemicals but the body comes to know that certain type of danger exists around and to which it must react to. This situation is known as panic attack.

This type of attack is usually characterized by different factors as mentioned below:

a) Overwhelming feelings of fear

b) Hopelessness

c) Increased heart rate

d) Tingling in the extremities

e) Headaches

f) Nausea

g) Extreme emotional fluctuations

h) Tightness in the chest

i) Weakness

j) Pain in the abdomen

The panic attack can start abruptly and then reach its' peak within a period of about 10 minutes and lasts for about half an hour.

However, panic attacks can exhibit several variations. These may actually last for many hours on even up to a full day under rare circumstances. You may also feel tired and completely worn out after the attack subsides.

People vulnerable to panic attacks usually get affected by several other mental health conditions such as depression, social phobia or fear of public places most commonly referred to as agoraphobia.