How common is panic disorder? Well, to give you some sort of example of how many people suffer at the hands of this disorder, I will give you some statistics:

(1) In any given year in America, 5% to 10% of the people will have this disorder.

(2) Twice as many women have this disorder than men.

(3) The disorder generally occurs in young adulthood and more than half of all sufferers develop the condition before the age of 24.

So, the answer to the question, how common is panic disorder, I will say only one word - very!

If you are still not convinced, here are some more statistics:

(1) It rarely occurs in people over the age of 65.

(2) It seems that the more people that have this condition in their family history develop it.

(3) You are four to seven times more likely to get it if it runs in your family.

(4) More than 10% of the nation will experience a panic attack at one point in their lives.

(5) A person suffering from panic disorder and panic attacks will have, on average 37 attacks a year. Broken down, that amounts to at least one every nine days!

So therefore, I think I have proven my point! How common is panic disorder? Certainly more common then what people would think.

Panic Disorder is a terrifying condition, and it can destroy the lives of many. It generally starts out with the odd panic or anxiety attack and can progress to more and more attacks, leaving the person petrified of leaving the house and doing daily tasks for fear of having one.

There are self-help groups for sufferers of this condition and you may find that talking about your experiences may help you. In these groups, you can get helpful facts and tips on how to deal with your attacks, and how to tell people how to help you whilst you are having one.

The best thing to do is to tell your Doctor exactly how you are feeling and what you are experiencing. There is no need to be embarrassed or ashamed of your disorder, it doesn't mean you are crazy or any other name caused by the stigma of mental disorders. Your Doctor will have seen cases like yours time and time again, and they will be able to provide you with information on these groups, or books, leaflets and even websites you can visit for more help and information about your condition.

Whichever way you look at it, Panic disorder is incredibly common and that should reassure you, you are not alone, and you do not have to deal with it alone! Talk about your experiences, share tips and helpful advice, but whatever you do, do not suffer with this in silence!