Anxiety Panic Disorders Information

General anxiety disorder is the most common mental illness in America. In fact, nearly 20% of all adults in America suffer from general anxiety disorder.

Unfortunately, women are twice as likely to experience general anxiety disorder than men.

Approximately 1/3 of the adults who suffer from general anxiety disorder actually had some symptoms as children. Of course, this is especially true of women who also suffer from panic disorders. It is common for women to suffer from this after childbirth; however the majority do get over it quickly.

Many parents do not notice or simply ignore the symptoms of anxiety in their children. This can have drastic consequences has they head into adolescence and adulthood.

The reason for this is due to childhood sexual abuse. Interestingly enough, this causes 65% of men and only 46% of women to develop a general anxiety disorder, which can lead to post traumatic stress disorder.

Of course, each of us faces some form of anxiety each day. In fact, the list of anxiety causing events is pretty much endless. It comes from such things as losing a job, being in debt, waiting for medical tests or the death of a loved one. However, most of us can overcome this anxiety because we see how we have succeeded overcoming events that have caused anxiety in the past.

Luckily mental health professionals are available to help you if you are suffering from general anxiety disorder. It is important to get this treatment because if it is not taken care of, it can lead you to be unable to even leave home.

Here are the common triggers and causes of panic attacks:

Phobia - People who are exposed to certain situation or objects they are afraid of will often experience a panic attack.

Passiveness - Many think that excessive politeness, shyness, and respectfulness are a positive thing and it is normal for someone to possess these characteristics. Be that as it may, a growing number of evidence supports the idea that passiveness as a result of fear (sometimes unexplained), low self-esteem and self-confidence is consistent with a person experiencing episodes of panic attack.

Hyperventilation syndrome - Mouth breathing and over-breathing or exhaling more carbon dioxide with respect to the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream can result to symptoms including dizziness, lightheadedness, and rapid heartbeat. These symptoms, in turn trigger panic attacks.

Benzodiazepines - Drugs such as benzodiazepines are prescribed to treat the symptoms of panic attacks. These drugs have a very quick to take effect. Usually, the patient finds relief within 30 minutes. However, benzodiazepines are highly addictive and rebound effect is common (a panic attack triggered by withdrawing from the drug).

Medications - There are certain drugs such as fluoroquinolone type antibiotics and Ritalin (methylphenidate) with panic attacks listed as a side effect. Attacks may be temporary, usually occurring when a patient begins medication but may continue occurring even if the patient is already accustomed to the drug. When this happens, change of dosage or type of drug is usually warranted. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or SSRIs boost the level of serotonin in the brain which regulates and normalizes emotions. However, intake of SSRIs can increase anxiety at the beginning of use. Panic attacks may even be more frequent to patients who wean on and off the medications

Biological causes - post traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, Wilson's disease, pheochromocytoma, hypoglycemia, mitral valve prolapse and labyrinthitis (inner ear disturbances) can manifest through panic attack. Vitamin B deficiency from periodic depletion because of parasitic infection from tapeworm or due to inadequate diet can trigger panic attacks.

Heredity - Children, whose parents have been found to suffer from panic disorder, are likely to experience or have panic attacks as well. In other words, inheritance plays an important role in determining who gets it. However, people with no family history can still develop panic disorder.

Environment factors and upbringing - People who grew up overly cautious about their life and actions, and those who live in a very stressful environment, plus different traumatic experiences from the past are likely to have panic attacks.

Short-term triggering causes - Significant life changes, emotional trauma from a failed relationship, life transition, stimulants such as nicotine and caffeine, psilocybin, marijuana, and drugs can trigger panic attacks.

Take note that these triggers and causes may have different effects to different people. One may only need one trigger to have an episode of panic attacks. Others may require several triggers in order to break down. Also, by simply being exposed to any of these triggers do not automatically result to panic attacks because some are emotionally stronger than others.

It is also important to note that some symptoms of panic attacks may also be a sign of other medical condition. Hence, it is important to precisely pinpoint the cause of the symptoms in order know what type of treatment is necessary.