Causes of Panic Attacks
A broad definition of a panic attack is the feeling of extreme fear and anxiety, which is accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, heart palpitations, shaking plus a few other symptoms. Although most people are aware of what a panic attack is, the causes of panic attacks are still unknown. There isn’t any conclusive evidence on what is the specific cause of panic attacks, but it is lead to believe that there may be several factors such as biology and environment that could help trigger this condition.
There is research that indicates that for some people, panic attacks could be passed on through their genetics. Like how parents can pass down hair or eye color to their children, a panic disorder has also shown to run in the family. This could also mean that the individual might be predisposed to having these attacks. In some cases the family members of panic attack sufferers have had previous emotional disorders such as depression.
Abnormalities in the brain could be another possible biological cause for panic attacks. There are some certain changes in the brain that could contribute to a panic disorder. Research has indicated that disorders such as post-traumatic stress can co-occur with panic attacks. Although there is no concrete evidence that biochemical abnormality causes panic attacks specifically, what has been determined is a general hyper-arousal of the adrenal system, which occurs in all of us whenever there is a challenge or danger present. This is part of your nervous system that gears you up to handle incoming threats. Panic always begins in an environment of stress, anxiety, pressure or fear. This might be confusing for some people whose first panic episode seemed to be in a climate that was particularly stressful. But if they take a deeper look they usually realize that it was at least a time of challenge and struggle or extra pressure to deal with. Panic attacks rarely occur when life is peaceful and free from any worries.
As mentioned above panic attacks can also be caused by major life stresses. This stress may come in the form of a traumatic event or a major life transition like the death or separation of a loved one. Some researchers have discovered that in these cases, when stresses lower your resistance, the underlying physical predisposition kicks in and may trigger an attack.
Addictions could be a type of environmental cause that can bring about an onset of panic attacks. The intoxication or withdrawal of drugs or alcohol due to substance abuse, can possibly also contribute to a panic disorder. Biological and environmental causes of a panic disorder might sometimes even work together. Recurrent panic attacks are often triggered by a specific situation, such as heights or speaking in public – especially if that situation has caused a panic attack before. Typically, attacks can occur quite randomly, but eventually the sufferer might bring them on themselves by reacting to the physical symptoms associated with an attack. For example, if a person suffering from a panic disorder experiences accelerated heartbeat caused by an outside source, like taking a certain medication or watching a scary movie, they might interpret this as a symptom of an attack. They might even bring on an attack since the intense fear of having a panic attack can actually trigger one. Since the exact cause of panic disorders are not fully understood, and are different for each person, it is important to seek advice and treatment that can be obtained through several different forms of therapy.
