What Causes a Panic Attack?

As we said, despite the possible reasons mentioned above, researchers are unsure about the exact reason for panic attacks. In many ways it’s just our bodies designed to do what they should. But in the modern world, our bodies do not have quite the same need to run that our ancestors did; for example, like being chased by a sabre-toothed tiger who wants his dinner.

Our natural defense mechanism against stress is our 'flight or fight response' which is one of our most basic and primitive internal programs and also one of our most powerful. It’s meant to be powerful as it’s meant to protect us from moving buses, falling trees and anything else that may come between us and life. This 'flight or fight response' speeds up your heart, pumping adrenaline into your blood stream to get you ready to run for your life. Our poor bodies have not evolved as fast as our world, so our brain is often preparing us to take flight in situations where this response is just not helpful. For example, when the boss wants a report done – or else.

The 'fight or flight response' is meant to help us to either, stand and cope with the danger, or run away from it. It’s normal and it’s natural. What makes a panic attack a little different is there really is no danger - it’s just the expectation or preemptive possibility of danger that’s triggering it.
While some panic attacks

What Causes a Panic Attack?
What Causes a Panic Attack?
What Causes a Panic Attack?
What Causes a Panic Attack?