There are many potential causes of panic attacks.
These sudden onsets of panic can be debilitating for some people.
However, understanding what the cause of your anxiety attack can be the key to finding a cure to your panic.
A panic attack is the sudden "fight or flight" response or fear occurring under circumstances that would not cause that type of reaction in a normal person.
It is estimated that 35-40% of people experience at least one panic attack in the course of the year.
About 3-5% of the population struggle with a panic disorder, meaning that they regularly experience this phenomenon.
This condition usually first affects people when they are less than 25 years old and twice as many women as men.
One of the unique things about panic attacks is that it involves virtually every major system of the body.
In addition it can be caused by nearly any system of the body was well.
For example, your endocrine system which includes your adrenal glands, thyroid, pituitary gland, etc.
is responsible for secreting hormones throughout your body.
Hormones can be responsible for triggering emotions that may lead to a panic attack or they may stimulate the nervous system to the point where a "fight or flight" response is brought on.
Another cause for panic attacks may be psychological.
If a person suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder they will often experience panic attacks in the presence of something that they associate cognitively with a traumatic event.
An example of this type of cause is a person who had been in a car accident involving a cement truck striking their car.
After this time a person with this form of panic disorder may experience an episode any time the saw a cement truck on the road.
Poor nutrition choices may be another potential cause of panic attacks.
A diet that is deficient in B vitamins can contribute to panic disorders.
In particular B12 is an important vitamin for your nervous system.
In some cases your doctor can administer a B12 shot and if this clears up your panic attack problem; your cause is likely dietary.
You may need to augment your diet with periodic B12 shots or by taking sublingual B12 supplements.
Sleep deprivation is another potential cause for panic attacks.
While the purpose and power of sleep is not fully understood, it is clear that your nervous system has the opportunity to synthesize the day's experiences while you sustain an adequate amount of sleep.
Insomnia or some other sleep disorder can directly influence your propensity toward suffering from panic attacks.
These are just some of the more common causes of panic disorders.
There are some cases where it is never understood why some people have a panic attacks.
However, by understanding a few of the more common mechanisms of panic and anxiety attacks you may be able to correct your own problem to lead a happier panic free life.