Hi Warren,
One of the biggest myths about panic disorder is that people believe that it means that they are "going crazy." This is simply not true.
Panic attacks do often go with other kinds of serious problems such as depression and OCD but if you have another serious problem, you probably know about it. For example, people with schizophrenia may also suffer from anxiety but the symptoms of schizophrenia are quite distinct from the symptoms of panic disorder and there is no evidence that panic disorder can "cause" schizophrenia.
In short, research to date suggests that panic disorder "does not" drive people "crazy".
Hope this was the answer you were looking for?
Please be sure to discuss how you are feeling with your doctor or therapist. They will be able to provide you with the reassurance you need to feel better about this. Ask about coping mechanisms to help you overcome these fears.
Casey
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The Panic Center Support Team
