What is the Cause of Anxiety Attacks?
The easy answer is anxiety. But this doesn’t come close to capturing the nuance needed to understand the mechanics of an anxiety attack. We get nervous at times but this is how we’re designed. Anxiety often protects us from danger. It alerts to the presence of a threat. Human beings wouldn’t be here if our ancestors hadn’t listened to such signals long before the digital age that we are trying to navigate today.
That said, if feelings of anxiety become chronic, we create a different form of risk. Being worried all the time is a sign of an anxiety disorder. People with anxiety disorders are at risk of experiencing anxiety attacks.
Why Does Someone Have an Anxiety Attack?
Again, it could be part of a disorder. But even so, high levels of stress can increase the odds of anyone having such an attack. Here are some possible sources of anxiety-inducing stress:
Feeling nervous about an upcoming event
Dealing with personal problems in any aspect of your life, e.g. relationship, career, school, etc.
Not taking good care of yourself in terms of sleep patterns, physical activity, eating habits, and stress management
Being obsessed with world events
Trying to manage a big change like a new job, loss of a loved one, marriage, or health issues
Financial concerns
The probability that you will struggle with anxiety attacks increases if:
You have a preexisting condition of any kind
High anxiety is common in your family
You suffered from childhood trauma
You’re naturally introverted
You engage in substance abuse
You’re easily startled or sent into a panic
The introduction of the word “panic” is an ideal time to offer a clarification.
Am I Having an Anxiety Attack or Panic Attack?
The dictionary definition of panic is “sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety, often causing wildly unthinking behavior.” This very much dovetails with an anxiety attack. However, it’s important to note that panic disorder is a discrete diagnosis but it is still a type of anxiety disorder.
In other words, there are plenty of blurry lines here but a trained clinician would differentiate based on observations that aAnxiety attacks tend to have a specific cause.. That cause may only be perceived but it is identifiable. A panic attack is more likely to feel very sudden. Ultimately, you’ll want to ask for professional input when it comes to discerning the underlying causes.
Anxiety Attack: Signs to Look For
While everyone and every situation will contain distinct characteristics, there are a wide range of red flags when it comes to recognizing an anxiety attack. These include:
Elevated heart rate
Shortness of breath
Racing thoughts
Sweating, trembling, and shaking
Dry mouth
Feeling nauseous and dizzy
Agitation escalating into anger
Sudden, unexplained body pains and headaches
A feeling of being fully out of control
If That Sounds Familiar, Well… Now What?
To address and manage anxiety attacks requires you to accept their presence. This motivates you to start looking for causes. It empowers you to ask for help. At the same time, your acceptance can be the catalyst for you to take some self-loving steps in your daily life. We touched on how personal neglect can make anxiety a bigger problem. Thus, taking self-care steps like this can reverse that negative trend:
Going to sleep and waking up at consistent times each day
Sticking to a daily regimen of exercise and physical activity
Learning about which foods and drinks are best for you
Introduce relaxation techniques into your life — from meditation to journaling and beyond
Most of All, Get Started With Therapy
In weekly sessions, you can directly address the frightening feeling of being out of control. It’s a safe space to explore and learn more about yourself. Let’s talk soon about getting this process started. Reach out to learn more about our anxiety treatment options.