Panic is a normal response to many situations. Panic can also be an abnormal response to normal stuff. When people experience panic that interferes with their

Panic is a normal response to many situations. Panic can also be an abnormal response to normal stuff. When people experience panic that interferes with their day to day life, and causes them distress they may have an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are distressing and debilitating, and they lead to years of life lost to disability. Some of them have high rates of death by suicide. Luckily, they're also very treatable. Most people experience pretty good recovery from an evidence based talking therapy. Sometimes that needs to be combined with medication, and sometimes the talking therapy needs to be repeated in a year or so. So, hopefully, when people say "this sounds like a panic disorder" what they're really saying is "I understand the distress you're in, and here's some things that may help".