If you've ever suffered from a panic attack, or know someone who has, then you know how frightening these episodes can be. These attacks often occur without warning and come with acute feelings of high anxiety along with a variety of very uncomfortable physical symptoms. These anxiety attacks often happen when there is no immediate danger and while the physical panic attack symptoms may only last for a few minutes, the emotional toll that they take may last far longer. Almost 35-percent of the population suffers from a panic attack at some point in their lives. Most attacks typically occur between the late teens and early thirties and medical studies have shown that women are twice as likely to suffer from a panic attack as men. A panic attack is often defined by those in the medical field as the sudden onset of feelings of intense fear and high anxiety. When someone is suffering from a panic attack, they may feel like they have lost control of their body or their thoughts. Most people say they feel nauseous and often have difficulty breathing. Anyone who has had more than one panic attack in their lifetime is often diagnosed as having a panic disorder. These individuals live in fear of recurring attacks and suffer from constant apprehension. They may even start to avoid activities they once enjoyed in an effort to curb an attack from happening. Other panic attack symptoms include a racing heart, a sense of terror and tingling in the hands. Currently, it is not clear what causes a panic attack, but in some people symptoms of panic attacks occur as a result of major lifestyle changes or major lifestyle stressors. There is also some evidence that shows panic attacks may actually run in families. Once an individual is diagnosed as having a panic disorder, treatment options are available to overcome the symptoms of a panic attack. Typically, medication is the most often used treatment method with antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications being prescribed. These medications help to mask symptoms of panic attack without actually working to cure the underlying issue. The side effects of medications is also something to keep in mind. Many of them can be harmful and most medications cannot be taken with certain foods. This is never a concern when you use a drug free method of treatment for your panic attacks. In order to fully break free from panic attack symptoms, you need to learn positive coping techniques and relaxation skills. Learning how to react to a panic attack with deep breathing should be your first line of defense instead of dulling your senses with medication. Being able to identify the fears that trigger these attacks will help you to overcome them and be in more control of your life. Using a drug free method to face the fear that comes with a panic attack symptom is the only way you will be able to ever completely cure this disorder. Panic is based on fear, and once you have learned to positively conquer that fear, your sense of panic will begin to subside, and so will the attacks.