There are several common situations that often trigger a panic attack:
Phobias
When a person has a phobia, they are more likely to suffer a panic attack
when faced with the object of their fear. An example would be someone who has
a fear of snakes encountering one in their front yard.
Social Events
People who are faced with an extremely intimidating public situation, such
as a party where they don’t know anyone or being asked to speak in front
of an audience, they might have a panic attack. This is especially true of
those with social anxiety disorder.
Crowds
Large crowds, especially in tight spaces, can cause a person to have a panic
attack. A person might feel smothered by being surrounded by a large number
of people, or they may fear that the crowd will get in their way if they need
to escape.
Enclosed Spaces
Riding in an elevator, walking down a tight hallway, or driving through a
tunnel may trigger a panic attack because the person may feel trapped and unable
to get away if any danger arises.
Substance Abuse
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Drugs and alcohol, especially stimulants such as cocaine or methamphetamines,
can cause stress on the body as well as the mind. They can also cause irrational
thoughts to seem real, making the user sensitive to perceived danger whether
real or imagined.
Other Issues
A person coping with anxiety, depression, or schizophrenia might experience
a panic attack in relation to their feelings about their disorder. They also
might be in a more sensitive emotional state because of their condition, which
will make them more likely to suffer a panic attack in stressful situations.
Once a person has experienced a panic attack, they may develop panic disorder
out of fear of another attack. Certain people may be more likely to suffer
a panic attack than others. Some factors that might influence a person’s
sensitivity to panic attacks and panic disorder include:
Major Life Events
Going through an event such as the loss of a family member, moving across
country, or a divorce can make a person sensitive to suffering a panic attack
if the right trigger presents itself.
Anxiety
Someone who is already predisposed toward being overanxious is more likely
to look at certain situations with a sense of panic. This heightened awareness
of anxiety can make them more vulnerable to panic attacks.
Heredity
While stressful events, dangerous situations, and phobias are what inevitably
trigger panic attacks, some people may be genetically predisposed to suffer
panic attacks in those situations. Studies suggest that a person with a family
history of panic attacks and anxiety disorders is more likely to experience
panic attacks and panic disorder than someone without a family history of these
issues.
Author: Nan Little
Website: http://www.insightjournal.com/
Have you felt an overwhelming desire to escape in a situation where you
experienced a high level anxiety? Did you tremble or shake
uncontrollably, excessively sweat, felt dizzy or had tingling
sensations? These symptoms indicate that you may have experienced a
panic attack. Find out more about panic attacks here.
What are the steps to diagnosing a panic disorder? Find out what your
healthcare professional will need to learn in order to determine
whether you experience occasional anxiety and panic or have a panic
disorder.
What type of person develops a panic disorder? Learn more about what
researchers have discovered, including temperament and triggers, the
‘gender factor’ as well as family history.
There are actually several different types of panic attacks that a
person can experience if they have panic disorder. Situational
predisposed panic attacks, spontaneous panic attacks, and cued panic
attacks share certain characteristics, but they are each triggered
differently. Find out more about the different types of panic attacks
here.
Individuals who have been diagnosed with panic disorder have many
treatment options available to them. Psychotherapy (including
Cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
(REBT), prescription medications, as well as Complementary and
Alternative Medicine (CAM) are just some of the many treatments for panic attacks.
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