Causes of Anxiety Attacks and Panic Attacks

There are many possible causes of anxiety attacks. Knowing each and every one of them is a good place to start preparing for them and learn how to cope with such instances.

There are a number of factors which makes a person more susceptible to having anxiety attacks. A person prone to having anxiety attacks, however, may be suffering from just one, none, or a combination of these factors at any given time.

Brain Chemistry - Several researches suggest that brain chemistry may also be linked with anxiety attacks. Of course, you'd need to have a professional read and assess your brain chemistry to know whether this factor plays a role in your life or not.

Environmental Factors - The environment in which a person inhabits can certainly have something to do with his vulnerability to anxiety attacks. Environments that are filled with conflict, pain, disharmony, and stress commonly lead to anxiety attacks. Of course, some environments can be deceptive: on the surface, a family home may look like it comes straight from a housekeeping magazine when all the while it hides undercurrent of tension and hardship.

Heredity - Genetics may also have something to do with anxiety attacks. If your family has a history of anxiety disorders then this could mean that you're prone to having anxiety attacks, too. If your family also shows a remarkable weakness against anxiety attacks then this could be inherited, too.

Personality - An individual's personality can also make him more vulnerable to having anxiety attacks. Having low self-confidence and being pessimistic can make a person easily depressed and this can then lead to anxiety attacks.

Trauma - Obviously, events that are completely shocking and life-changing can lead to a penchant to having anxiety attacks. Traumatic events don't necessarily involve death. It can be just about anything that has left a deep impact on a person's mind and heart. Places, persons, objects, or anything at all that could trigger memories of a traumatic event could lead to anxiety attacks.

Anxiety attack may not be a one-time thing and this is such the case if you are suffering from an anxiety disorder.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder - People suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder or GAD are constantly beset by worries and fears that are often irrational. They tend to expect that something bad will happen and this could of course lead to anxiety attacks. Other symptoms of GAD are often physical in nature.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - Also known as OCD, this type of disorder occurs when an individual has certain obsessions or compulsive tendencies that lead to anxiety attacks and other responses when they're denied.

Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder - People suffering from this disorder simply suffer through a consistent series of panic attacks. These could be triggered at any time or place and without any explanation. They may last from fifteen to thirty minutes.

Phobias - These are irrational and excessive or exaggerated fears. It could be triggered or caused by just about anything or anyone. The focus of a phobia may be concrete or abstract, living or inanimate. Anxiety attacks are just one of the symptoms of people suffering from phobias.

Separation Anxiety - This is also known as social phobia. If you have an excessive fear of public humiliation then you might be suffering from separation anxiety and consequently prone to anxiety attacks.