What Causes Panic Attacks and How to Tell If you Are Having One
The characterization of a anxiety panic attack is a panic attack that is induced as a result of unnatural levels of anxiety. Not just limited to major stressful events or concerns, anxiety attacks can be related to anything. An anxiety panic attack can be caused by anxiety over a party, a loved one, even anxiety over what clothes to wear.
The focus of the attack is one of the key features to an anxiety panic attack. Usually when a person experiences such panic they will have a central trigger. The trigger tends to be the same thing for those who experience chronic panic attacks. Anytime individuals who suffer from agoraphobia travel they tend to have an anxiety panic attack or when they travel beyond a safe distance such as their doorstep.
Triggers
The trigger for an anxiety panic attack will vary according to the situation for most people. The body’s natural reaction to the high levels of stress can be triggered at times of extreme stress panic. The accepted main reason behind any panic attack is known as the fight or flight reaction. The body will react when a person experiences an event that is extremely stressful or traumatic. An extreme reaction to the situation is caused by the release of chemicals into a persons system.
A reactive stressor triggers chemicals that cause an anxiety panic attack. The body assumes there is some danger even if there is no need for it and feels it must react, this is a panic attack. Many key factors can mark an anxiety panic attack. Signs of an attack include overwhelming feelings of fear and hopelessness, increased heart rate, sweating, tingling in the extremities, headaches, nausea and extreme emotional fluctuations.
Symptoms
Since the symptoms are usually a mixed bag when it comes to panic the list can be extensive. The immense feeling of anxiety is mentioned by any panic sufferer when they have an anxiety panic attack. They feel as if nothing can help them, this is a common major symptom that marks the start of an attack.
In most cases an anxiety panic attack can be controlled which is a good thing. To help control panics you should learn exercise, controlled breathing, healthy diet, relaxation techniques and even just have someone to be there and listen. Finding out what causes the panic and reducing this factor in your life is often the key to helping panic attacks.
Bette Daoust
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/what-causes-panic-attacks-and-how-to-tell-if-you-are-having-one-68691.html
10 Responses to “What Causes Panic Attacks and How to Tell If you Are Having One”
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May 22nd, 2009 8:20 pm
Can Video games cause Panic Attacks?
In the past i suffered from panic attack but then i had them less and less. now i am starting to have panic attacks again and i was told that playing video games to much can cause this to happen. Is this true?
May 23rd, 2009 1:22 am
I don't know but it's interesting.
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May 23rd, 2009 1:24 am
In all honesty i wouldn't be surprised if yes they certainly could do. Gaming really does get intense, i have pulled my hair out playing Tomb Raider!!
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May 23rd, 2009 1:26 am
There have been many theories on the effects of video games. Video games can modify peoples behaviors, especially when it comes to feelings of agitation (frustration, anger, hostile), which can lead to how people treat others or perceive events.
If you have panic attacks, it could be more then just video game effects, such as associating personal issues with a game. It can also be screens of either television and or computers, causing certain problems, especially since they don't fully accommodate our eyesight.
I remember an article about seizures caused by an episode of Pokemon, because of all lights, color, intensity
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/pokemon.html
"…..This explosion scene was mixed with about five seconds of flashing lights from the eyes of "Pikachu," a popular Pokemon character. Suddenly, viewers started to complain of blurred vision, headaches, dizziness and nausea. Some people even had seizures, convulsions and lost consciousness. ….."
cool link on hostuffworks "TV pixels and your brain"
http://www.howstuffworks.com/tv1.htm
"Both televisions and computer screens (as well as newspaper and magazine photos) rely on this fusion-of-small-colored-dots capability in the human brain to chop pictures up into thousands of individual elements."
Think of all this info in relation to panic attacks like this
Senses (in this case, sight/eyes) > Sends signal to brain > causes reaction
The reaction can be laughters, sadness, or if any of the transferring of senses to brain signal is disrupted, it can lead to other problems.
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May 23rd, 2009 1:28 am
I don't see why not. Some movies I watch cause me to have panic attacks. They are so graphic I actually get so afraid sometimes I have to check my pulse!
As for me, I don't have panic attacks with video games, but I do get motion sickness while playing them. I am 39 years old now and I grew up with Atari, Nintendo, Super Nintendo and then played with my own son with Nintendo 64, with no problems…but now the gamecube games and PS2 games make me nauseated and I have researched this and found out it is actually motion sickness. (Which I have never had while traveling).
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May 23rd, 2009 1:30 am
Most possibly they have been known to cause epileptic fits, so panic attacks, i guess could fall in the same category, a young girl died not so long ago in Japan from playing her PS2 for too long???
gives ya summat to think about.
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May 23rd, 2009 1:32 am
i would say no. i think you have just had a relapse i strongly sugest you go back and see your doctor . i went through panic attacks and try every time saying to yourself (IT CANT DO ME ANY HARM ) then soon you will realise that it is true. i know that you feel you are going to die but honest you will come through it. good luck.
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May 23rd, 2009 1:34 am
Well, in my opinion , it could be caused by too much playing. And I once had that before too.. But it was gone for long… never come back.
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May 23rd, 2009 1:36 am
I think it could have some effect. I'm no expert, but on all video-games theres the warning about epilepsy sufferers and flashing images.
They also advise that you should only play for an hour, then have a fifteen minute break (I'm sure nobody really does this though)
They also advise you should be in a well lit room and be as far from the television/monitor as possible.
On a more psychological level, maybe the nature of the games is affecting your panic attacks. In games, you have objectives to achieve, often in a tight time constraint. The rushing around, under pressure a lot of the time could be increasing your anxiety levels, causing these panic attacks.
I can't offer a solution I'm afraid, maybe try to take the games less seriously if at all possible. Or try playing them on a more casual level, with friends.
I hope this helps.
Ant
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May 23rd, 2009 1:38 am
This site has some great information on how to stop panic attacks. http://www.panicattackrelief.com
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