What Causes Panic Attacks?
A person suffering from panic attacks may experience the feeling of intense fear and apprehension, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, sweating, trembling, and a host of other symptoms. There is, however, no definite answer to what causes this condition. There are, nonetheless, two things which are contributory to panic attacks, the biological and the environmental.
In fact, many experts in the field of psychology have zeroed in on genetics in their efforts to find possible causes in people. Just as hair and eye color can be inherited from one or both parents, a panic disorder has long been seen to also run in families. One theory reveals that there are people who are prone to panic attacks, for unknown reasons. On the other hand, there are panic attack sufferers who have a family member who also suffers from panic attacks or suffer from emotional disorders or depression.
There is also a possibility that panic attacks are caused by abnormalities in the human brain. In fact, it may happen that a panic disorder can be the cause of certain changes in the function of the human brain. Studies have shown that panic attacks are closely associated with psychotic disorders like schizophrenia and post-traumatic disorder. There is also a chance that psychotic symptoms may lead to an attack. In addition, psychotic attacks have been proven to precede anxiety disorders. In fact, research suggests that the human body’s natural fight-or-flight response to danger has also been associated with panic attacks. The human body’s alarm system is a group of mental and physical mechanisms that make a person respond to various threats characterized by accelerated heart rate and an increased breathing pattern. When a person suffers from symptoms it may cause these feelings even if there is no danger.
A major upheaval in the life of a person, like the death of a loved one or even a separation from a loved one can be the cause of panic attacks. In other research it shows that stress can significantly raise a person’s likelihood of experiencing panic attacks.
Finally, the so-called environmental causes have also been seen in people who are into substance abuse or addiction. In fact, the person’s intoxication or even his withdrawal from drugs or alcohol can actually contribute to anxiety disorders. Moreover, it is also possible that both the biological and environmental causes are responsible. In fact, a person may normally suffer from panic attacks even without apparent causes, for example, a person who is suffering from a panic attack may experience accelerated heartbeat as a result of medication, and it may be interpreted as a symptom. In fact, many people are suffering because of too much anxiety and the fact that they worry a lot about the possibility of having an attack in the future. As of today, the real cause of a panic attack remains unclear and unknown, and so it is always recommended to seek professional help.
Tags: Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Panic Attacks
