The First Time Celia Had a Panic Attack, She Was

Essay

The first time Celia had a panic attack, she was working at McDonalds. It was two days before her 20^th birthday. As she was handing a customer a Big Mac, she had the worst experience of her life. The earth seemed to open up beneath her. Her heart began to pound, she felt she was smothering, she broke into a sweat and she was sure she was going to have a heart attack and die. After about ten minutes of terror, the panic subsided. Trembling, she got in her car, raced home, and barely left the house for the next three months. Since that time, Celia has had about three attacks a month. She does not know when they are coming. During an attack, she feels dread, searing chest pain, smothering, choking, dizziness, and shakiness. She sometimes thinks this is not real and she is going crazy. She also thinks she is going to die. Which anxiety disorder does Celia likely have? Code the disorder on the correct axis. How would a cognitive theorist explain Celia's presenting symptoms?