Anxiety is a universal human feeling, which we all experience from time to time. Normally we know why we are anxious and the feeling usually does not disrupt our lives. Most people experience some anxiety in a challenging situation, such as an important test or job interview. Anxiety becomes a problem requiring professional help when it intensifies and spreads beyond normal limits. In that case, a person may experience anxiety most of the time rather than upon rare occasions.

Anxiety may take the form of panic attacks, creating frightening symptoms that can become incapacitating if not controlled. Symptoms may include overwhelming feelings of fear, shortness of breath, light-headedness, sweating and heart palpitations. If you are having panic attacks you might think that you are going to faint or have a heart attack. These symptoms may limit your ability to do certain things, to go certain places and to lead a normal life.

Sometimes anxiety takes the form of a specific fear, which is called a phobia. Common phobias include fears of flying, fears of driving on freeways, fears of enclosed places and fears of crowds. A fear of being away from your home is called agoraphobia. Panic attacks sometimes occur when a person anticipates confronting a feared situation.

Symptoms of panic attacks, fears and phobias usually respond favorably to proper treatment by an experienced and well-qualified therapist. Possible treatment approaches include conventional psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, behavior therapy, desensitization, hypnosis and the use of psychotropic medications.

See types of psychotherapy, types of therapists and What is a psychologist? for other factors relevant to the treatment of panic disorders. 

How can you decide who is the right professional person to help you with this kind of problem? You may get information about me at Marvin S. Beitner, Ph.D.  You may get information about how to evaluate the credentials of any  psychologist at Check Qualifications.