subject: Main Causes Of Panic Attacks - Essential Knowledge [print this page] Main Causes Of Panic Attacks - Essential Knowledge
Panic Attacks are usually caused by a buildup of generalized anxiety over a long period of time that seems to erupt out of nowhere into a full blown panic attack. Nearly twice as many women suffer from this condition as do men. Some people may have an attack 1 or 2 times a week, while the more severe cases tend to have them daily. A panic disorder will be diagnosed by doctors when the sufferer has more than 3 attacks per week.
Some of the main causes of panic attacks are stress at work caused by extreme deadlines, an overbearing boss, an extreme amount of outstanding debt or a death in the family. Another main cause of panic disorders is genetics/heredity. (Being passed down through family members) There are increased studies showing that parents who suffer from panic and anxiety are 80% more likely to have children that experience the same condition.
Fear of the next panic attack is also a huge cause. After most people have their first attack there becomes this looming fear of when the next one will hit. This causes constant anxiety and over time will actually build itself into a full blown panic attack. It is important at that point to break this cycle or it may go on for several years.
There are also a lot of medications that cause increased anxiety while taking them. It is a good idea to see if there is a substitute medication that you may take if you have this experience. Along these same lines comes the abuse of alcohol, caffeine, nicotine and drugs which are all huge causes of anxiety. It is not natural for your body to intake any of these substances. Abusing these substances will increase your blood pressure and metabolism, in turn causing you increased anxiety, and over time lead to panic attacks. If you are using any of these substances it is recommended that you stop immediately.
Another cause of panic is your "fight or flight response" The "fight or flight response" is our body's primitive, automatic, inborn response that prepares the body to "fight" or "flee" from perceived attacks, harm or threat to our survival. When our fight or flight response comes into play, chemicals like adrenaline are rushed into our blood stream, our respiratory rate increases and our pupils begin to dilate as we become super aware of everything around us. Our pulse rate and breathing quickens, our palms become sweaty, and we become prepared physically and psychologically for fight or flight. When this system is activated, we start to perceive everything in our environment as a possible threat to our survival and that is when panic attacks start to kick in.
According to experts nearly 100% of panic attacks are completely curable if the appropriate information is given to the sufferer. Studying the actual root causes as well as changing some life style habits has dramatic healing effects on most people. Another method is to change your behavioral and thought processes through counseling or self help courses that are available.
