What Causes Panic Attacks

The symptoms of a panic attack are easily recognized by those who have suffered a panic attack, the racing heartbeat, the struggle to catch your breath and the sweating palms.

Some people will also feel nauseous or get stomach cramps and possibly feel faint or dizzy. If you have suffered any combination of the above you may have suffered a panic attack. Recognizing it is one thing, but understanding what caused a panic attack is a whole different challenge. Below I have tried to detail some of the reasons why people may suffer and what causes panic attacks.

The causes of a panic attack can range from an individual event, such as getting married, or some other activity for which the patient feels unprepared and out of their depth. Other examples of these situations can be giving birth, graduating from university, the death of a family member or friend.

The other type of panic attack is where a situation represents a fear and this causes increased stress and anxiety and hence causes a panic attack. This is the type of panic attack a sufferer from agoraphobia would experience.

Their associations are so strong that simply placing them in a certain situation will trigger a panic attack. Finally, a possible cause of a panic attack is the side affect of other medication.

After you have understood what causes panic attacks you can start to better understand your treatment and the severity of your condition. If your panic attacks have escalated beyond just one or two unpredictable episodes then it is possible that you are now suffering from a panic disorder. If your panic attacks are happening on a monthly or even a weekly basis then they are almost certainly affecting your quality of life.

Understanding what causes panic attacks is only the first step, but it is a crucial step.The second step after accepting what causes panic attacks is treating the condition and taking active steps to change your life to reduce to stress and improve your quality of life. Panic attacks can be controlled and they do not need to destroy your life.

To successfully treat your panic attacks you must not get caught up with treating the symptoms, always refer back to what causes panic attacks. Although treating symptoms will work in the short term quality of life is depending on solving the problem at the root; the more time you invest in your treatment the greater the rewards.