08 – Common Triggers of a Panic Attack

In this presentation, I’m going to share with you the familiar triggers that set up
panic attack in motion.
If you’ve been in a stressful situation with your heart pounding, your head swimming,
and your breathing out of control, then you know how miserable a panic attack can be.
However, most people don’t realize that panic attacks are always rooted in something
specific, your feelings of stress, discomfort, and trauma during a panic attack are as a
result of something from your past that you’re being reminded of at the moment.
Here are the most common triggers of a panic attack.
Stress Stress and anxiety go hand in hand, and being overly stressed can be the underlying
cause of your anxiety symptoms, and the fear will often make your stress worse.
Plus, when you are too stressed, you may turn to behaviors that increase your anxiety symptoms,
like smoking, abusing alcohol, and abusing drugs.
Thyroid gland issues Your thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones
that are important in regulating your energy levels and metabolism.
However, if your thyroid gland produces too much of these hormones, it can cause anxiety
symptoms to manifest, such as irritability, nervousness, sleevelessness, and heart palpitations.
Certain Medications There are certain medications whose side
effects could be contributing to your anxiety symptoms and panic attacks.
Watch out for prescription medications related to thyroid disorders and asthma drugs.
Other the counter-decongestants and other cold remedies also put you at risk for experiencing
a panic attack.
Caffeine Caffeine is a potent stimulant and can be bad
for people who suffer from anxiety.
The jittery effects caffeine has on your body are similar to those of a frightening event,
because caffeine triggers your fight or flight response, which can make symptoms of anxiety
worse and even trigger an anxiety attack.
Drugs and Alcohol There is a strong link between anxiety and
drugs and alcohol.
Research has shown that people who suffer from an anxiety disorder are twice as likely
to have problems with drugs and alcohol.
If you have social anxiety and you abuse drugs or alcohol, you are more likely to have severe
symptoms of anxiety, as well as other emotional and health problems.
If you are experiencing unexplained symptoms of anxiety, it is essential to talk to your
doctor to find out what is causing your stress.
The good news is that anxiety disorders are treatable.