When Fear TakesControl of the Mind

A panic attack is asudden feeling of terror. Usually it does not last long,but it may feel likeforever. The

cause can besomething as normally uneventful as driving over a bridge or flying in anairplane.And it can

happen even if theperson has driven over many bridges or flown many times before.A fast heartbeat. Sweaty

hands.Difficulty inbreathing. A light一headedfeeling. At first a person may have no idea what is wrong. But

these can all besigns of what is known as panic disorder. The first appearance usually isbetween the ages of 18

and 25.In some casesit develop3 after a tragedy,like the death of a loved one,or some otherdifficult situation.

In the United States,theNational Institute of Mental Health says more than two million people are af-

fected in anyone-year period.The American Psychological Association says panic disorder istwice more like-

ly in women thanmen.And it can last anywhere from a few months to a lifetime.

Panic attacks can bedangerous一for example,if aperson is driving at the time.The Chesapeake Bay

Bridge in the stateof Marylandis so long and so high over the water,and it is famous for scaring motorists.

There is even adriver assistance program to help people get across.Some people who suffer apanic attack

develop a phobia,adeep fear of ever repeating the activity that brought on the attack.

But experts saypanic disorder can be treated. Doctors might suggest anti-anxiety oranti-depressant

medicines.Talking toa counselor could help a person learn to deal with or avoid a panicattack.There are

breathingmethods,for example,that might help a person calm down.Panic disorder isincluded among what

mental healthprofessionals call anxiety disorders.A study published last week reported alink between

anxiety disordersand several physical diseases.It says these include thyroid disease,lung andstomach prob-

lems,arthritis,migraineheadaches and allergic conditions.Researchers at the University of Manitobain

Canada say that in most cases the physicalcondition followed the anxiety disorder. However,they say,exactly

how the two areconnected remains unknown.

The report in theArchives of Internal Medicine came from a German health study of more than 4,000 adalts.The probabilityfor American females to be affected by panic disorder is_________that forAmerican males.

A.twice as much as

B.three times asmuch as

C.three times morethan

D.one time more than