Question

You encounter a student sitting on a bench who is sweating profusely, racing heartbeat, short of breath, and says she feels like she is dying. She is likely suffering from:

a. generalized anxiety disorder c. a panic disorder.
b. a panic attack d. OCD

Answer 1

A student experiencing sudden, intense physical and emotional symptoms including sweating, a racing heartbeat, and breathlessness is likely having a panic attack, which is associated with panic disorder, a type of anxiety disorder.

Step-by-step explanation:

A student sitting on a bench who is sweating profusely, has a racing heartbeat, is short of breath, and feels like she is dying is likely suffering from a panic attack. This is a type of acute anxiety reaction that can occur suddenly and with intense physical and emotional symptoms. A panic attack is commonly associated with panic disorder, which is a form of anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent panic attacks and the persistent fear of having additional attacks. Whereas, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) typically involves a constant long-term feeling of anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) involves compulsions and obsessions that consume a lot of time and affect daily life.