What is the Cause of Panic Attacks? 

The ‘official’ ‘unofficial’ description of Panic or Anxiety is a disorder in which the individual afflicted feels an intense, irrational fear and an impending sense of doom or dread. 

What this means is that, in ‘layman’s terms’, if you suffer from Panic Anxiety Disorder, or any form of it, that you will be confronted with paralyzing fear for no apparent reason that will make you feel as if there is no possible way out of it. And you can experience this unprovoked fear at any time within the course of a day. 

The answer to what is the cause of panic attacks is short and sweet. Everything and NOTHING! Reread the definition of it above. Now the picture should become a bit clearer. 

In most documented cases of panic attacks, the patient rarely reports any event that would have triggered the onset of the attack itself. 

Now, with that said, let me also explain that when a panic sufferer returns back to a situation or setting where a previous attack happened, this could trigger another attack, just because they’ll be reminded of how terrifying that first attack was, and unconsciously be thinking about it successfully triggering yet another attack! It’s a vicious cycle of fear. 

And the greatest fear of a panic attack/disorder sufferer? To have ANOTHER ATTACK! Hopefully this is beginning to make a little more sense to you now. Of course the attack hasn’t killed them, and most likely won’t, but it can sure feel like you’re dying at the moment when an attack is occurring though. 

So, the greatest determiner of having a panic attack is also your greatest treasure, your MIND. Even though you can tell someone that is having an Anxiety attack that “It’s All In Your Mind”, this usually comes out leaving them feel you are trying to be condescending to their plight. Not a nice feeling I’m sure you’ll agree. Even though you don’t mean it in that way, this is most likely the way it is received. 

To be more ‘clinical’ about a panic attack, it is, in fact, ‘all in your mind’. Because the BRAIN is where all your Panic or Anxiety stems from. Many studies have focused mainly on two specific portions of the brain that are responsible for inducing feelings of fear and anxiety. It is simply an unannounced trigger that sets off one’s “fight or flight” defense mechanism, kicks in the adrenaline, and BAM! A full blown Anxiety attack is on it’s way forward. 

Many times, Panic or Anxiety is brought about due to increased stress from daily life. Bills piling up, children seemingly out of control, pressure from work, family, and other events can trigger this disorder bringing it to the surface of an otherwise “dormant” carrier of the genetic traits passed on by their parents.