A panic attack is a fairly common phenomenon, the main symptom of which is a sudden attack of severe anxiety and excitement. But why do such attacks occur at all?
The most common causes of panic attack
Very often, a person who has undergone a panic attack has an increased heart rate, chills, sweating, a feeling of lack of air, fear of possible death. In the most severe cases, a person ceases to control himself, may shout, call for help, although there is no danger. Experts believe that the most susceptible to panic attacks are people who are highly suspicious, as well as overly responsible, who attach too much importance to the opinions of others, are afraid to make a mistake, get into an awkward position. They often think that they are losers, that those around them are waiting for their first mistake to laugh at. As a result, increased nervous tension sooner or later leads to a breakdown, which takes the form of a panic attack. The so-called perfectionists can get into the same situation, that is, people who treat themselves with increased severity, are accustomed to bringing any business to perfection, and therefore are often prone to stress, overwork.
In addition, a panic attack can be a kind of "memory" of the body about a severe traumatic situation in which a person had previously been. The mechanism of this phenomenon has not yet been sufficiently studied.
Experts also believe that a hereditary predisposition plays a large role in the likely development of a panic attack. If in the family a person had heightened suspicious, fearful and hysterical people, inclined to interpret any trifle almost as a universal tragedy, it is highly likely that he will behave in the same way.
Finally, changes in hormonal levels, deviations from the norm in the work of certain organs (heart, endocrine glands) play a large role in the development of panic attacks.
What to do if another person has a panic attack
If someone showed obvious symptoms of a panic attack (severe fright without any objective reason, sometimes on the verge of hysteria, panic, complaints of lack of air, chills, increased sweating and rapid heart rate), your task is to help him calm down. One should not reproach him, let alone laugh at an incomprehensible fear. Talk to him in a calm and measured voice, preferably holding his hands. Assure that everything will be fine, that there is no danger. As a rule, the attack of a panic attack disappears soon enough.
