Suddenly and without warning, and without apparent cause, Melissa felt scared that she was losing control and became paralyzed with fear for several minutes. These symptoms are consistent with a(n):
A) obsession.
B) flooding episode.
C) compulsion.
D) panic attack.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Melissa's experience of sudden, intense fear and feeling paralyzed without an apparent cause is characteristic of a panic attack. Panic attacks involve abrupt surges of intense fear or discomfort that reach a peak within minutes and can include symptoms like palpitations, sweating, trembling, feelings of shortness of breath, and fears of losing control or dying. Obsessions (A) are persistent, unwanted thoughts, and compulsions (C) are repetitive behaviors driven by those thoughts, both of which are associated with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), not sudden fear episodes. Flooding (B) is a psychological treatment method for phobias, not a spontaneous experience of fear.

Suddenly and Without Warning, and Without Apparent Cause, Melissa Felt