A person suffering from panic disorder may ask: what causes panic attacks?

There are varieties of situations that can result in this problem. These can include a history of your own attacks or those suffered by other family members, mental disorders, traumas, drug abuse, medications and even bereavement.

Panic attacks are characterized by a sudden feeling of intense terror. And the symptoms for this condition may become progressively worse. Which means they may eventually occur quite often and at times last for as long as ten minutes before subsiding. And since it’s a progressive condition, finding what causes panic attacks and seeking help as soon as possible is key in getting the correct form of treatment.

Past and Unexpected Attacks

If a person has already experienced an attack at a certain place it will be difficult to go back to the area without fear. This will lead the sufferer to avoid the place in fear of experiencing another one. A crowded area can trigger another attack when an individual thinks that another episode can occur and there is no way to get out of the crowd fast enough.

Unexpected attacks can happen with no known cause. This is more distressing and harder to treat. They can be an indicator of an underlying panic disorder. Repeated unexpected attacks can lead to the fear of being in places where it’s hard to get help or flee. These can also come about as a result of a family history of episodes.

PTSD

Post traumatic stress disorder occurs when one experiences a life-altering traumatic event. With this condition, the event is relived through flashbacks and feels like it’s all happening again. Great fear is what causes panic attacks in cases such as this. The person suffering tends to avoid anything that may remind them about the past situation for fear of another episode occurring.

Extreme Phobias

Extreme phobias are also another reason as to what causes panic attacks to occur. The intense fear for an object or place will make the person avoid it. And when confronted with the feared thing, the individual panics. The reason this occurs is because ones mind is programmed to perceive it as a threat or danger.

Drugs

Certain street drugs that cause fast change in emotion can cause panic. A lot of drug users report having panic attacks as a response to not having control over the situation. The attacks experience is a direct side effect of the drug itself.

Bereavement

Lastly, bereavement is also a cause of episodes to happen. The death of a significant other may leave a person feeling sad, alone and scared. An individual may panic due to the variety of feelings from fear of death to fear of abandonment. This can also lead to extreme worry and anxiety, which can result in panic attacks as well.

Since knowing what causes panic attacks can help in determining the correct form of treatment, it’s essential to take a look at your own situation. Discover as much as you can and understand as much as possible about how your own attacks have come about.