Crippling fear disables victims of anxiety panic disorder. The attacks can strike out of nowhere and for no apparent reason.

Take Joan, for example. Everything in her environment seemed so perfect on that balmy spring afternoon that Joan could never have imagined that anxiety panic disorder was about to change her life forever.

The kids brought home excellent report cards, her patio was filled with the satisfying aroma of steaks on the grill and the flower garden that she and her husband had planted the month before was in full bloom.

She had no way of knowing she was just minutes away from an anxiety panic attack.

Deciding to cut some fresh flowers to brighten up the dinner table, Joan walked into the house to get her gardening sheers when suddenly she was gripped by anxiety panic disorder which caused an intense paralyzing fear like nothing she had ever known.

Her heart began racing, her breathing became labored and she trembled uncontrollably. She felt dizzy, nauseated, out of control.

Seeing the symptoms and fearing she was having a heart attack, Joan's husband drove her to the emergency room where the doctor informed her she had suffered an anxiety panic disorder.

"But I don't have anything to feel panicked about", said Joan. "In fact, this has been an almost perfect day. But now that I have experienced the terror of anxiety panic disorder, I'm not sure if I'll ever feel safe on my patio again."

As it turned out, Joan is one of the 1.5 million Americans who suffer from anxiety panic disorder. Victims of this type of anxiety attack suffer intense, overwhelming terror for no apparent reason. In the middle of an episode many feel that they are going crazy or that they are about to die.

The anxiety panic attack often begins abruptly, peaks within 10 minutes and lasts about half an hour. In some severe cases, anxiety panic attacks may last hours or up to a day.

Anxiety panic disorder can be debilitating. Sufferers can't predict when the attacks will occur. Fear of recurrent panic attacks can lead to avoidance behavior keeping the victims from doing things that most people consider to be normal such as driving a car or going to the mall.

Victims literally develop a fear of fear.

In her insightful ebook titled "Calming Words", Dr. Jean Kavanagh offers practical advice for people with this disorder. She supports the theory that breathing techniques can be learned that will help the sufferer stop a panic attack in its tracks. Because so many panic attack sufferers feel out of control, this confidence building technique has been very successful.

If you or someone you love is experiencing episodes of anxiety panic disorder, you do not have to face "the panic monster" alone.

Read Dr. Kavanagh's inspiring book. See your doctor about medications, cognitive behavioral therapy, and relaxation techniques. Treatment is generally very effective and most people are eventually able to resume their everyday activities.