Despite the widely accepted theory that panic attacks are manifestations of an erroneously or unnecessarily triggered fight-or-flight response, the exact cause of it remains a puzzle.
There are however, a number of recognized factors that contribute to it.
While awaiting definitive scientific findings looking for genetic links to panic and other anxiety disorders, it is helpful to avoid triggers or causes of the irrational panic symptoms.
Or if unavoidable, to seek help to address these causes before panic becomes a full blown disorder.
Failing to do so may only lead to more serious panic and anxiety related problems.
Trauma Traumatic experiences leave you scared and scarred.
It is a natural reaction to trauma to want to avoid the situation, place, person or thing associated with that particular experience.
Left unattended, trauma sufferers are unlikely to re-learn to face or deal normally with things, places or persons associated with their trauma.
The avoidance could get worse and lead to withdrawal.
Exposure to these triggers can cause a panic episode.
Withdrawal Symptom Panic attacks may also be the result of discontinuing some medications or detoxification from prolonged drug use, or even from alcohol abuse.
People who have developed a chemical dependence on certain substances experience various physical, psychological and emotional complications from abrupt discontinuance.
The type and severity of withdrawal symptoms experienced by someone withdrawing from a substance they're chemically dependent on varies widely.
Panic attacks are common among those who are withdrawing from prolonged use of anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medications, as well as those from certain recreational drugs.
Panic Attacks as Precedent to Future Panic Episodes A first panic attack can cause future attacks to follow.
The debilitating experience that lasts only ten minutes tops often leave you with lingering feelings of fear, anxiety and concern.
This lingering feeling evokes lingering concern and you begin living in a constant state of fear of having another episode.
Because you don't know when a panic episode may strike, your anxiety is compounded by the likely prospect of embarrassing yourself in public when an attack occurs while you're out.
Walking around with this anticipatory anxiety is like carrying a ticking time bomb; one false move can detonate that bomb to a full-blown panic attack.
A Complication of Other Anxiety Disorders Sufferers of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, social anxiety, agoraphobia and other similar disorders are at very high risks.
People who already have a distorted sense of reality or are prone to irrational thoughts are likely to suffer from panic related problems, as they are predisposed to blowing things out of proportion.
A pattern of negative thoughts can turn a simple invite to a party into a highly stressful prospect.
And someone who suffers from social anxiety disorder would definitely suffer from anticipatory jitters that can escalate to an attack of panic leading up to the day of the party.
The bullseye cause of panic disorders may yet be unknown but it does everyone a world of good if we all pay attention to our mental health as much as we strive to achieve a slimmer figure.
Making sure your daily stress level doesn't go beyond normal and maintaining a healthy dose of positivity despite cynicism and put-downs go a long way toward keeping panic attacks at bay.