subject: A Look at The Biological and Societal Causes of Panic Attacks [print this page] Author: Alex J Schneider Author: Alex J Schneider
Panic attacks are primarily manifested in an unintentional experience of extreme anxiety. This extreme anxiety becomes even more visible and obvious through the shortness of breath, sweating, trembling, heart palpitation and other physiological or behavioral symptoms. The panic attack cause is not due to just a single factor. Several factors interplay in the occurrence of an attack. These factors can be of the biological or societal type. One of the biological factors of the occurrence is attributed to genetics. Since hair color can be inherited through genetics, most probably, this disorder can also be hereditary. Heredity makes a person more prone to experiencing an attack. Individuals whose family members or relatives experienced a similar or related disorder would have higher chances of experiencing an attack than those individuals who does not have any history of such disorders in their family. Panic attacks can also be attributed to brain functions and abnormalities. If there are changes in the functions and operations of the brain, attacks may occur. Schizophrenia, post traumatic stress disorder and other related psychological disorders are often closely linked with the attacks. If a person encounters a psychological breakdown, there is a high probability that he or she would also experience or suffer from an anxiety disorder. The natural fight or flight responses of the human body also play a role in the attacks. Palpitating heartbeat is just one of the physiological and mental mechanisms our body uses to react to the presence of a threat or danger. However, in panic attacks, anxiety is experienced even without any potential danger at all. Life stressors can also cause the attack of an individual. Life stressors refer to any stressful or change-inducing event, whether pleasant or unpleasant. Negative and unpleasant circumstances such as separation or death of a loved one can be a stressor. At the same time, happy and pleasant events such as getting a new job or getting married can also be stressful. These major life stressors reduce the resistance of an individual, making him or her more prone to physical predisposition. When this physical predisposition is no longer controlled, the person may experience an attack. Another societal or environmental explanation for the attacks is intoxication with alcohol or substance abuse. An alcoholic or drug-addicted individual would have higher chances of experiencing attacks than those individuals who drink moderately and are not addicted to drugs. When these environmental and biological factors come in contact with another, the possibility of an attack becomes even stronger. Even the most neutral circumstances can be interrupted by an attack. A notion prevalent among individuals involves automatically concluding that a symptom is already a 100% indication that he or she would experience a panic attack later. This presumption on the occurrence of panic attack causes the person to be very anxious, thus leading to the panic attack itself. It does not always imply that because a person feels her heartbeat has become slower and deeper, a panic attack is coming.About the Author:
