Panic Attacks–The Signs And Causes

Panic attacks can actually come in many forms, and many people are often unaware that they are experiencing one. They can last for only a few seconds at a time, while more extreme cases can last for several days. A panic attack may also occur suddenly, or they may develop in intensity over several hours. The most common signs of an impending panic attack or an unexplainable feeling of discomfort or tightness in the body and head.

What panic attacks may come as the result of a period of great stress and discomfort, it can just as often occur without any apparent trigger. Work-related stress, interpersonal relationship problems, and problems at home are some of the more common causes. While these causes are obviously psychological, the results that they bring can be very real. Some of the most common physical symptoms that you may experience as a result of a panic attack are: headaches, hot flashes, nausea, and dizziness. More extreme panic attacks can even cause strokes, heart attacks, and unconsciousness. And then there are the behavioral symptoms. Many people who are experiencing a panic attack may lash out that other people verbally and even physically. People who have experience panic attacks often may even resort to hiding the condition from other people.

Although many of the causes of panic attacks are psychological, certain physical factors may have a role to play as well. Pain is one of the more recognizable physical triggers, what a panic attack simply being a symptom of a deeper underlying physical condition. Among some of the physical conditions that have been known to trigger a panic attack are: diabetes, hypertension, pregnancy, menopause, and even the onset of puberty. In addition, lack of exercise and poor nutrition may also cause you to be more prone to panic attacks. This condition may also come as a result of too much caffeine and alcohol, and drug use.

The first step in determining what the possible causes of your panic attacks are is to consult with a doctor who will make a thorough diagnosis of your condition, and pinpoint the symptoms that are present. He or she may also help you figure out what circumstances commonly trigger a panic attack, as well as help you find a way to deal with such events when they happen. Eventually, you may be able to deal with stressful events well enough to avoid experiencing a panic attack.