Give yourself the "PANIC QUIZ"

by Denise Beckfield, Ph.D., Author of

Master Your Panic and Take Back Your Life!

1.  Do you have times when feelings of terror sweep over you, when your heart pounds or you feel weak and dizzy? Do you think you're about to die or go crazy and lose control?

2.  Do you often think that with all the physical symptoms you have, there must be something wrong with your body that your doctors have missed?

3.  Do you sometimes have trouble swallowing without choking, or have the frightening sensation that things around you aren't real?

4.  When you notice a pain or a change in your body, like an "extra" heartbeat or a tight, achy chest or a bad headache, do you sometimes worry that something must be seriously wrong?

5.  Do you have intense fears of illness or death and need to see your doctor often, because "it's better to be safe than sorry"?

6.  Are there places you avoid going because they make you nervous, even though you can't really explain your uneasy feelings, even to yourself?

7.  Do you often try to sit near an exit when you go out somewhere, so that you can leave if you need to without drawing attention to yourself?

8.  When you were young, were you ever separated from an important family member because of some event like a lengthy hospitalization, or even a death?

9.  As a child, did you worry a lot about new situations, or was it hard for you to be away from home, even to go to school?

10.  Do you still get "homesick" at times, even though you're fully grown?

Note: A "yes" response doesn't necessarily mean you have panic disorder, but the more items you endorse, the more experiences you share with those who do.