Overcoming a Panic Attack Disorder

What causes a panic attack? There could be many different underlying reasons for a panic attack, but the most common reason is simply high stress or anxiety. Understanding the underlying reasons of what causes a panic attack is part learning how to overcome a panic attack.

The fact is anxiety is a common part of life and everyone experiences it on a daily basis. How we manage the anxiety is the key to a healthier lifestyle. I watched a TV program that was about a study on people that lived longer lives compared to most other people. What they would do is go around and interview people that were over a hundred years old, and they would find one thing in common with all of them.

These people simply knew how to manage stress and anxiety. They would not let things in life effect them as much as other people. Of course there were other factors such as the right kind of diet and exercise, but the mental factors involving stress and anxiety were strikingly clear in their similarities.

So what exactly is anxiety? Anxiety is defined as the state of apprehension or fear resulting from the anticipation of a real or imagined threat, or situation. This may bring the question to mind, Why then do people suffer from panic attacks when there is no real or immediate danger present?

The reality is the symptoms of panic attacks may be triggered by underlying stress in your subconscious mind. People often experience high anxiety and in their mind they may not even be aware they are experiencing the anxiety, but the body may be well aware of higher levels of stress.

Another reason people may experience panic attacks is known as the fight/flight response. When confronted with a danger the body uses anxiety to spring us into action. It's our body's natural way of protecting itself when danger arises.

You may notice when you experience a panic attack that these type of emotions or responses occur. It also may seem counterproductive because people think the anxiety causes great harm in the form of a panic attack then actually your bodies attempt to save you from danger.

Of course the fight/flight theory is dependent upon receiving a panic attack when a real danger becomes a reality and does not explain why people receive panics in low stress conditions.