In Panic Disorder, individuals are particularly sensitive to what?

• A. External life events
• B. Internal bodily sensations
• C. External environmental cues
• D. Social judgment

Answer: (B)

Panic disorder is driven by hypersensitivity to internal bodily sensations and the fear that these sensations signal danger. People become highly attuned to bodily cues like a racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, or chest tightness, and they often interpret these sensations as something catastrophic (such as a heart attack). This misinterpretation fuels anxious arousal, panic attacks, and avoidance, creating a self-perpetuating cycle. External life events or environmental cues can trigger anxiety, and concerns about social judgment are prominent in other disorders, but the defining sensitivity in Panic Disorder is the focus on internal bodily sensations and their perceived threat.