What situations might cause a sufferer to have a Panic Attack?

Panic attacks can be Situational or Spontaneous.

Situational Panic Attacks

Situational panic attacks happen when the sufferer is exposed to a catalyst.

For example, some panic attack sufferers may panic when they are exposed to a phobia such as a spider, dog or heights. Others may experience panic attacks when they feel agoraphobic, when they are on an airplane or when they have to make a speech for example.

Because these situational panic attacks only happen under specific circumstances, often, the sufferer will develop avoidance techniques in order to control their panic attacks.

Avoidance often leads to phobias, phobias are restrictive, restriction leads to heightened anxiety, anxiety leads to panic attacks. this cycle is frustrating and frightening for all panic attack sufferers.

Spontaneous Panic Attacks

Spontaneous panic attacks are completely indiscriminate. Spontaneous panic attacks can happen at any time, under any circumstances and are just as likely to happen whilst asleep as when awake.

Spontaneous panic attacks happen mostly when a sufferer has an underlying anxiety disorder which is apparent most of the time, most commonly Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is the cause of spontaneous panic attacks.

Sufferers of GAD feel anxious most of the time, their bodies 'anxiety thermostat' has become reset at a much higher than normal level of 'resting' anxiety. This increased anxiety makes it very easy for the body to tip over into panic attacks 'mode' at the slightest increase of anxiety.

Whichever form of panic attack symptoms you personally experience, whether spontaneous or situational, the cause is the same; an underlying anxiety condition which artificially and inappropriately raises your benchmark level of anxiety past the comfort zone.

In order to permanently eliminate panic attacks, it is vital to redress this inappropriate anxiety level, forcing it back down to a level where panic attacks can not occur.

This is simple to do, following a structured and easy to implement approach which adjusts your anxiety level back down. Panic attacks can't happen when anxiety isn't present.