Join AARP Renew Now

You’ve reached content that’s exclusive to AARP members.

To continue, you’ll need to become an AARP member. Join now, and you’ll have access to all the great content and features in Staying Sharp, plus more AARP member benefits.

Join AARP

Already a member? Login

Want to read more? Create a FREE account on aarp.org.

A healthy lifestyle helps protect the brain. Make brain health a habit and register on aarp.org to access Staying Sharp.

Not Registered? Create Account

What causes panic attacks, and how can you prevent them?

Facebook

Twitter

TED Talks
Manage Stress

Add to My Favorites

My Favorites page is currently unavailable.

Add to My Favorites

Added to My Favorites

Completed

LENGTH

5:02

SPEAKER

Cindy J. Aaronson

Countless poets and writers have tried to put words to the experience of a panic attack — a sensation so overwhelming, many people mistake it for a heart attack, stroke, or other life-threatening crisis. Studies suggest that almost a third of us will experience at least one panic attack in our lives. So what exactly is a panic attack, and can we prevent them? Cindy J. Aaronson investigates. [Directed by Aim Creative Studios, narrated by Bethany Cutmore-Scott, music by André Aires].

AARP VALUE &
MEMBER BENEFITS

See All Benefits

Advocacy & Community

Create the Good

Find nearby volunteer opportunities that interest you

Learn More

See more Advocacy & Community offers >

{"hideCategory":false,"useAlternateLanguage":false,"headlineIconAltText":"","listItems":[{"categoryTitle":"Advocacy \u0026 Community","categoryUrl":"/membership/benefits/community/","categoryDeeplinkParam":"community","isLimitedTimeOffer":false,"offerJson":{"dbr_offer_id":"5e2160f47773ad50fbb14703add25c21","source_name":"Create the Good","offer_title":"Find Volunteer Opportunities That Interest You","offer_description":"\u003cp\u003eFind nearby opportunities that match your skills and interests or recruit volunteers for your service projects.\u003c/p\u003e","offer_short_description":"Find nearby volunteer opportunities that interest you","category_list":"community","subcategory_list":"community-volunteering","tags":[{"tagID":"dbr:community","title":"Advocacy \u0026 Community","name":"community","deeplink_url":"/membership/benefits/community/","deeplink_param_value":"community","get_offers_url":"/etc/aarp/dbr/ws.api/offers/community.json","sub_tags":[{"tagID":"dbr:community/volunteering","title":"Volunteering","name":"volunteering","deeplink_url":"/membership/benefits/community/volunteering/","deeplink_param_value":"community-volunteering","get_offers_url":"/etc/aarp/dbr/ws.api/offers/community-volunteering.json"}]}],"vertical_image_url":"https://aarp.widen.net/content/wdpfpnhcqs/jpeg/258x334-CTG-need-volunteer.jpeg?position\u003dc\u0026color\u003dffffffff\u0026quality\u003d99\u0026u\u003dqgu0ow\u0026title\u003dCreate the Good\u0026alt\u003dvolunteer word on blue t-shirt and sign up clip board ","image_url":"https://aarp.widen.net/content/tb3a1mnc5h/jpeg/1140-CTG-need-volunteer.jpeg?position\u003dc\u0026color\u003dffffffff\u0026quality\u003d99\u0026u\u003dqgu0ow\u0026title\u003dCreate the Good\u0026alt\u003dvolunteer word on blue t-shirt and sign up clip board ","advertisement_flag":"","advertisement_sort_order":"","merchant_phone":"","merchant_phone_label":"","offer_deeplink_url":"/membership/benefits/community/create-the-good/","howto_redeem":"Learn More","howto_redeem_url":"https://createthegood.aarp.org/","howto_redeem_expired":"Renew to Learn More","howto_redeem_expired_link":"https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew","howto_redeem_non_member":"Join to Learn More","howto_redeem_non_member_link":"https://secure.aarp.org/applications/membershipChallenge/showChallengeForm.action?appName\u003daccount","howto_redeem_anonymous":"Join to Learn More","howto_redeem_anonymous_link":"https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid\u003dUASMBP1\u0026intcmp\u003dEWHERE-MBCHAE-LP-MMA-JOIN","howto_redeem_desc":"\u003cp\u003eSearch for volunteer opportunities on the Create the Good website.\u003c/p\u003e","member_exclusive_flag":"no","offer_type":"EverGreen","hideLeavingAARP":"true","interstitial_desc":"You’ll leave AARP and go to the website of a trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions, and policies apply.","dbr_offer_type":"socialmission","restrictions":"","lto_daysleft_start_control":30,"is_redeemable_in_person":"false","is_redeemable_only_in_person":false,"state_blacklist":[],"offer_timing":"anytime","line_of_business":"","asi_category":"","analytics_brand":"Create the Good","analytics_offerid":"create-the-good","howto_redeem_already_registered_anon":"Member Log In","howto_redeem_already_registered_anon_link":"https://login.aarp.org/online-community/loginform.action","howto_redeem_already_registered_nonmember":"Link your membership","howto_redeem_already_registered_nonmember_link":"https://secure.aarp.org/applications/membershipChallenge/showChallengeForm.action?appName\u003daccount","offer_keywords":["community","volunteer","Create the Good","charity","donate","service","remote"],"offer_keywords_spanish":["Comunidad","voluntariado","compartir es vivir","caridad","donar","servicio","remoto","a distancia"],"provider_logo":"https://aarp.widen.net/content/yqiz0a3xam/png/red-hands-heart-logo-icon.png?position\u003dc\u0026color\u003dffffffff\u0026quality\u003d80\u0026u\u003dqgu0ow\u0026title\u003dAARP Member Benefits\u0026alt\u003dred hands heart icon logo","provider_logo_alt_text":"AARP Member Benefits","provider_logo_cdn_uri":"https://aarp.widen.net/content/yqiz0a3xam/png/red-hands-heart-logo-icon.png?position\u003dc\u0026color\u003dffffffff\u0026quality\u003d80\u0026u\u003dqgu0ow\u0026title\u003dAARP Member Benefits\u0026alt\u003dred hands heart icon logo","provider_logo_width":"","provider_logo_height":"","enable_utm_parameters":"","append_aid_paramter":"","lto_model_heading":"Limited Time Member Offers","lto_advertisement":"Member Exclusive Advertisement","ty_socialMissionFlag":"false","deeplink_param_value":"create-the-good","howto_redeem_2":"Learn More","howto_redeem_already_registered_nonmember_label":"Already a member?","howto_redeem_already_registered_anon_label":"Already a member?","image_alt_text":"volunteer word on blue t-shirt and sign up clip board ","image_title":"Create the Good","image_cdn_uri":"https://aarp.widen.net/content/tb3a1mnc5h/jpeg/1140-CTG-need-volunteer.jpeg?position\u003dc\u0026color\u003dffffffff\u0026quality\u003d99\u0026u\u003dqgu0ow\u0026title\u003dCreate the Good\u0026alt\u003dvolunteer word on blue t-shirt and sign up clip board ","tab_label_offer_details":"Details","tab_label_restrictions":"Disclosures","geoloc_tab_label":"Locations","disclaimer_label":"","geoloc_provider_legal_info":"You will leave AARP.org and go to the website of a trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions, and policies apply.","geoloc_miles_label_text":"Miles","geoloc_show_results_within_label_text":"Show results within","geoloc_see_more_button_text":"See More","geoloc_find_location_label":"Find a Location","geoloc_total_results_label":"Result(s)","geoloc_no_results_view_message":"There are no locations within a 100 mile radius. Please try another location","geoloc_tab_hint_text":"Enter an address, city, or ZIP","geoloc_mobile_list_cta":"LIST VIEW","geoloc_mobile_list_cta_url":"","geoloc_mobile_map_cta":"MAP VIEW","geoloc_mobile_map_cta_url":"","geoloc_provider_link_cta_url":"https://createthegood.aarp.org/","geoloc_experience_type":"social_button","ty_ctaText":"Continue","geoloc_hide_tab":"false","ty_interstitialText":"Thanks for visiting aarp.org! Come back again to check out all of the AARP Member Benefits and unlock the full power of membership.","howto_redeem_label":"How to Access","ty_interstitialDesc":"Come back again to check out all of the AARP Member Benefits and unlock the full power of membership.","ty_cancelText":"Cancel","ty_interstitialTitle":"Thanks for visiting aarp.org!","lto_daysleft":"Days Left","provider_logo_title":"AARP Member Benefits","geoloc_hide_see_more_button":"false","geoloc_provider_link_cta":"Take Me to Locations Page","offer_page_path":"/benefits-discounts/all/create-the-good/","redemption_content":"","show_phone_number_above_cta":"","restrictions_label":"Disclosures","show_state_availability":"","state_availability_text":"SEE AVAILABILITY IN YOUR STATE","hideRestrictionsTab":"true","ltos":[]},"parentOfferJson":{}}]}

Health & Wellness

AARP Medicare Resource Center

Helpful resources to manage your current Medicare situation

Learn More

See more Health & Wellness offers >

{"hideCategory":false,"useAlternateLanguage":false,"headlineIconAltText":"","listItems":[{"categoryTitle":"Health \u0026 Wellness","categoryUrl":"/membership/benefits/health/","categoryDeeplinkParam":"healthandwellness","isLimitedTimeOffer":false,"offerJson":{"dbr_offer_id":"10d8d63b6416406cd849c673955793c8","source_name":"AARP Medicare Resource Center","offer_title":"Resources to Help Navigate Medicare With Confidence","offer_description":"\u003cp\u003eFind clear, unbiased Medicare guidance that can provide you with needed direction on eligibility and enrollment requirements, tips to managing your current Medicare situation, and comprehensive answers to hundreds of Medicare topics.\u003cb\u003e\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","offer_short_description":"Helpful resources to manage your current Medicare situation","category_list":"healthandwellness,insurance","subcategory_list":"healthandwellness-medicare,insurance-medicare_eligible","tags":[{"tagID":"dbr:healthandwellness","title":"Health \u0026 Wellness","name":"healthandwellness","deeplink_url":"/membership/benefits/health/","deeplink_param_value":"healthandwellness","get_offers_url":"/etc/aarp/dbr/ws.api/offers/healthandwellness.json","sub_tags":[{"tagID":"dbr:healthandwellness/medicare","title":"Medicare Eligible","name":"medicare","deeplink_url":"/membership/benefits/medicare/","deeplink_param_value":"healthandwellness-medicare","get_offers_url":"/etc/aarp/dbr/ws.api/offers/healthandwellness-medicare.json"}]},{"tagID":"dbr:insurance","title":"Insurance","name":"insurance","deeplink_url":"/membership/benefits/insurance/","deeplink_param_value":"insurance","get_offers_url":"/etc/aarp/dbr/ws.api/offers/insurance.json","sub_tags":[{"tagID":"dbr:insurance/medicare_eligible","title":"Medicare Eligible","name":"medicare_eligible","deeplink_url":"/membership/benefits/insurance/medicare/","deeplink_param_value":"insurance-medicare_eligible","get_offers_url":"/etc/aarp/dbr/ws.api/offers/insurance-medicare_eligible.json"}]}],"vertical_image_url":"https://aarp.widen.net/content/xyhm6gcoqm/jpeg/258x334-medicare-resource-center-paperwork-paperclip.jpeg?position\u003dc\u0026color\u003dffffffff\u0026quality\u003d99\u0026u\u003dqgu0ow\u0026title\u003dAARP Medicare Resource Center\u0026alt\u003dMedicare card and paperwork with paperclip","image_url":"https://aarp.widen.net/content/gfhut5nbgm/jpeg/1140x655-medicare-resource-center-paperwork-paperclip.jpeg?position\u003dc\u0026color\u003dffffffff\u0026quality\u003d99\u0026u\u003dqgu0ow\u0026title\u003dAARP Medicare Resource Center\u0026alt\u003dMedicare card and paperwork with paperclip","advertisement_flag":"","advertisement_sort_order":"","merchant_phone":"","merchant_phone_label":"","offer_deeplink_url":"/membership/benefits/health/aarp-medicare-resource-center/","howto_redeem":"Learn More","howto_redeem_url":"https://www.aarp.org/medicare/","howto_redeem_expired":"Renew to Learn More","howto_redeem_expired_link":"https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/renew","howto_redeem_non_member":"Join to Learn More","howto_redeem_non_member_link":"https://secure.aarp.org/applications/membershipChallenge/showChallengeForm.action?appName\u003daccount","howto_redeem_anonymous":"Join to Learn More","howto_redeem_anonymous_link":"https://appsec.aarp.org/mem/join?campaignid\u003dUASMBP1\u0026intcmp\u003dEWHERE-MBCHAE-LP-MMA-JOIN","howto_redeem_desc":"\u003cp\u003eThe resource center is available online.\u003c/p\u003e","member_exclusive_flag":"no","offer_type":"EverGreen","hideLeavingAARP":"false","interstitial_desc":"You’ll leave AARP and go to the website of a trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions, and policies apply.","dbr_offer_type":"socialmission","restrictions":"","lto_daysleft_start_control":30,"is_redeemable_in_person":"false","is_redeemable_only_in_person":false,"state_blacklist":[],"offer_timing":"anytime","line_of_business":"","asi_category":"","analytics_brand":"AARP Medicare Resource Center","analytics_offerid":"aarp-medicare-resource-center","howto_redeem_already_registered_anon":"Member Log In","howto_redeem_already_registered_anon_link":"https://login.aarp.org/online-community/loginform.action","howto_redeem_already_registered_nonmember":"Link your membership","howto_redeem_already_registered_nonmember_link":"https://secure.aarp.org/applications/membershipChallenge/showChallengeForm.action?appName\u003daccount","offer_keywords":["medicare resources","medicare insurance","member benefits","aarp benefits","aarp discounts"],"offer_keywords_spanish":["Medicare","Medicaid","Ayuda con Medicare","Descuentos de AARP","Beneficios de AARP"],"provider_logo":"https://aarp.widen.net/content/shwddmk4yz/png/publication-logo-icon.png?position\u003dc\u0026color\u003dffffffff\u0026quality\u003d80\u0026u\u003dqgu0ow\u0026title\u003dAARP Member Benefits\u0026alt\u003dred publication newspaper article logo icon","provider_logo_alt_text":"AARP Member Benefits","provider_logo_cdn_uri":"https://aarp.widen.net/content/shwddmk4yz/png/publication-logo-icon.png?position\u003dc\u0026color\u003dffffffff\u0026quality\u003d80\u0026u\u003dqgu0ow\u0026title\u003dAARP Member Benefits\u0026alt\u003dred publication newspaper article logo icon","provider_logo_width":"","provider_logo_height":"","enable_utm_parameters":"","append_aid_paramter":"","lto_model_heading":"Limited Time Member Offers","lto_advertisement":"Member Exclusive Advertisement","ty_socialMissionFlag":"false","deeplink_param_value":"aarp-medicare-resource-center","howto_redeem_2":"Learn More","howto_redeem_already_registered_nonmember_label":"Already a member?","howto_redeem_already_registered_anon_label":"Already a member?","image_alt_text":"Medicare card and paperwork with paperclip","image_title":"AARP Medicare Resource Center","image_cdn_uri":"https://aarp.widen.net/content/gfhut5nbgm/jpeg/1140x655-medicare-resource-center-paperwork-paperclip.jpeg?position\u003dc\u0026color\u003dffffffff\u0026quality\u003d99\u0026u\u003dqgu0ow\u0026title\u003dAARP Medicare Resource Center\u0026alt\u003dMedicare card and paperwork with paperclip","tab_label_offer_details":"Details","tab_label_restrictions":"Disclosures","geoloc_tab_label":"Locations","disclaimer_label":"","geoloc_provider_legal_info":"","geoloc_miles_label_text":"Miles","geoloc_show_results_within_label_text":"Show results within","geoloc_see_more_button_text":"See More","geoloc_find_location_label":"Find a Location","geoloc_total_results_label":"Result(s)","geoloc_no_results_view_message":"There are no locations within a 100 mile radius. Please try another location","geoloc_tab_hint_text":"Enter an address, city, or ZIP","geoloc_mobile_list_cta":"LIST VIEW","geoloc_mobile_list_cta_url":"","geoloc_mobile_map_cta":"MAP VIEW","geoloc_mobile_map_cta_url":"","geoloc_provider_link_cta_url":"","geoloc_experience_type":"","ty_ctaText":"Continue","geoloc_hide_tab":"true","ty_interstitialText":"Thanks for visiting aarp.org! Come back again to check out all of the AARP Member Benefits and unlock the full power of membership.","howto_redeem_label":"How to Access","ty_interstitialDesc":"Come back again to check out all of the AARP Member Benefits and unlock the full power of membership.","ty_cancelText":"Cancel","ty_interstitialTitle":"Thanks for visiting aarp.org!","lto_daysleft":"Days Left","provider_logo_title":"AARP Member Benefits","geoloc_hide_see_more_button":"false","geoloc_provider_link_cta":"","offer_page_path":"/benefits-discounts/all/aarp-medicare-resource-center/","redemption_content":"","show_phone_number_above_cta":"","restrictions_label":"Disclosures","show_state_availability":"","state_availability_text":"SEE AVAILABILITY IN YOUR STATE","hideRestrictionsTab":"true","ltos":[]},"parentOfferJson":{}}]}