What are the Causes of Anxiety Attacks?
The medical community has yet to figure out a specific cause of anxiety attacks because there are so many variables. One of those is, the person may just be too shy or have low self esteem. Another may be the person is overly sensitive to stimuli, or had a trauma occur during childhood. Some in the mental health field claim genetics are the cause. What is known for sure is, the individual reacts to stressful situations much more fearfully than most people do. For instance, when a school report is due, or when getting ready for a job interview, speaking in public, or playing an instrument in front of other people, everyone becomes anxious and may perspire, or their hearts beat rapidly. Their hands may tremble too. But they get past it quite well and without too many anxiety symptoms.
Whenever a person who is susceptible to panic disorders simply stands in line at the store or is a participant in a group meeting, riding in a taxi or even his own car, a panic attack can hit him unexpectedly, and he will then become so frightened all he wants to do is run to escape the situation. His heart will pound, he will feel faint, and may even believe he is having a heart attack. He will perspire profusely and nausea will set in. Most sufferers retreat behind closed doors and darken the windows to escape the scary world outside. And yes unfortunately, others will stay there for years becoming an actual recluse.
Other causes of anxiety attacks possibly leading to a panic disorder are obsessive compulsive disorder, real or imagined phobias, a traumatic event, and social phobia. This is when the person feels as if everyone is staring at him and critically judging him to be fat, ugly, stupid and anything else negative and damaging to self worth. Even speaking on the telephone can bring untold fear. Another cause of anxiety may be as simple as a smell that could stem from childhood or a stressful situation that the smell brings back. Still even though many cases of panic disorder can be severe enough to warrant medication, the success rate for a return to a normal productive life is very high.
Return to the Coping With Panic Attacks information or take a look at Ways to Overcome Panic Attacks.
