What Causes Panic Attack

Experts believe that the causes of panic attacks are a combination of genetics, biological, environment or social factors surrounding a person. It can happen at any time any place without any forewarning or signs. A panic attack is described as an abrupt episode of intense anxiety and fear that happens, sometimes with no specific reasons that triggers intensive physical and body reactions. It can be very alarming and frightening. Panic attacks If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications and panic disorder. It can severely affect your quality of life. Fortunately, there are medications, self-help treatments and therapies that can help lessen and even eliminate this problem.

You feel your heart pounding and you suddenly have difficulty breathing. You feel sick and dizzy as if you are going to fall apart; you even feel like dying or going crazy. Yes, it’s one of those brief moments that you are having panic attacks and you are losing control. If left untreated, panic attacks can lead to even serious problems and can cause you to withdraw from normal everyday activities. Other symptoms include hyperventilation, nausea, chest pain, vomitting and losing control of oneself. The attack usually happens for a brief period of time, sometimes ten minutes or less and it can occur any time or anywhere.

Genetics / Heredity

Panic attack has been found to be associated with genetics. It can be hereditary meaning it can run in the family, so parents can pass on or give the disorder to their children.This does not mean however that if there is no cases of panic attacks in the family, a person has less chances of getting it. It still varies as there are other triggers of causes of panic attacks.

Major Changes in Life

Stressful and depressing events such as death of a loved one, being fired from work or undergoing divorce can trigger the attacks. During this life changing events, a person can get depressed or sad leading to anxious behaviors. Same thing goes for life transition such as graduating from college, getting married or having a baby. If there is abrupt changes in one’s environment, panic attack can also occur.

Chronic Stress

Stress is a major issue in the occurence of panic attacks. When a person always has an ongoing high level of stress in his everyday life, it can contribute greatly to panic attacks. The explanation is since the person is always in a persistent overwhelming stress, the body has the tendency to automatically pump itself with cortisol and adrenalin. These hormones are stress-related and this causes the body to become sensitive to stress that even normal day-to-day normal events are seen as a threat or dangerous.

Traumatized by an Event

If a person has been put in a situation that has cause trauma or shock, it can definitely cause a person to experience frequent panic attacks for fear of experiencing the same thing again. It can cause phobia or trauma, making a person feeling "panicky" all the time. Being put in a fearful condition can make the person be wary or watchful all the time that danger might just be around. These kinds of behavior can definitely affect the quality of everyday life.

Excessive Caffeine Intake

Caffeine can increase the body’s amount of cortisol or what is referred to as “stress hormone”. And when the level of stress is increased, everything else follows. You should take coffee and other caffeinated drinks in moderation, or better yet and more advisable to avoid it if you are prone to frequent attacks.

Aside from whats mentioned above, there are factors that trigger panic attacks. Some examples include strenuous physical activities, existing medical conditions and illnesses, medications, alcohol and drug withdrawal, nutritional deficiencies and habitual hyperventilation.

Panic attacks can be quite alarming and potentially disabling if not address properly. The good news is there are several treatments and techniques that can help alleviate the problems. These can range from medications to self-help guides and therapy sessions. If you think that your panic attacks are prohibiting you from functioning in your normal day to day life, it’s always best to consult the advice of a professional . However, if you want the treatment to be effective, you can start on yourself by applying certain techniques such as breathing and relaxation, getting adequate sleep, avoiding alcohol and caffeine and joining a support group.