Dread Level 4:
Your heart is pounding, your palms are wet
Unlike protracted periods of worry, true panic attacks are intense, spontaneous episodes involving physical symptoms like rapid breathing, a racing heartbeat and profuse sweating -- and can last for a full 20 to 30 minutes. "You feel like you're going to die," says. Dr. Amen. While some attacks occur in response to a specific stress-inducing situation (like public speaking), most strike out of the blue, adds Dr. Thakkar. They are the result of a "delayed stress response," he notes, which is generally prompted by a series of anxiety-producing events.

Quash It: Many people find cognitive therapy (which involves teaching them to reform their thought patterns) to be effective in managing panic attacks, but some require a short course of anti-anxiety medication as well. To find a therapist near you, visit the Anxiety Disorders Association of America's Web site at adaa.org.

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