A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear or discomfort that rises quickly and can make your body feel as if you are in immediate danger. Your heart may pound, your breathing may change, you may feel dizzy or unreal, and you may become convinced that you are losing control, having a heart attack or dying. For college students, panic attacks and panic disorder can intersect with classes, work, housing, money, relationships, transportation, privacy, and the sudden expectation that you coordinate your own care. The condition itself is only one part of the problem; the system around it can either reduce or multiply the load.