There are many causes of panic attacks: heredity, lifestyle factors, upbringing, dietary problems, and so on.
But there are less obvious causes of panic attacks too, and I believe that these are the ones that produce the intense day-to-day anxiety that ruins our lives.
I'm going to focus on just one of these less obvious causes of panic attacks for the next few minutes.
I believe that if you can embrace this concept I'm about to share with you, and really get your head around it, that your chances of overcoming your anxiety and panic-related problems will be greatly improved.
And this idea is all about fear, and more specifically how the fear that your anxiety causes you is imaginary.
Fear is a defense mechanism in us.
It's evolved over millions of years to protect us from imminent dangers.
Its only purpose to make us aware of a danger and to get us to act to avoid that danger.
And that's why real fear is very short-lived.
It lasts just long enough to get our attention.
But think for a moment about the fear your anxiety causes you.
It's permanent, right? It lasts all day, every day.
That's how you know it isn't genuine fear.
One of the reasons this fear isn't genuine is because there is no genuine danger that needs your attention.
If we only experience real fear when something is about to pose a risk to our safety or our life, then how can the anxiety-based fear be real? It can't.
Because our anxiety is with us even when we're perfectly safe.
If you can grasp this concept then you'll be amazed how much of your fear you'll be able to let go.
And this constant anxiety-based fear is one of the most dangerous causes of panic attacks there is.
It's one you will do well to let go.