Panic attacks seem to happen out of nowhere. One moment you’re fine, the next you’re shaking and crying. Yet many patients fail to realize that the panic attack does not just happen out of nowhere. Frequently, the attack is triggered by a certain stimulus. It could be a particular person, a place, or even a smell. Whatever it is, understanding triggers is important in preventing panic attacks.

Why do certain smells or tastes sometimes cause a panic attack? Think of a person with a peanut allergy. Peanuts usually are harmless to the body, and normal people’s immune systems do not react. However, the allergic individual’s immune system is hypersensitive, and reacts as if peanuts were deadly poison. Similarly, the panic attack sufferer may have inherited a very sensitive nervous system that overreacts to harmless stimuli.

The research on panic attacks is ongoing. Although scientists still have many questions, they have found some answers. Currently, scientists believe that panic attacks occur because of a misplaced adrenaline rush. The adrenaline rush likely helped our ancestors, who lived among lions and leopards. It also helps us today, when we are fleeing a house fire, or running away from robbers. However, for some people, the adrenaline rush happens out of nowhere. No danger, no threats, yet your body floods itself with adrenaline anyway. That’s a panic attack.

A person’s genetic data greatly influences who they are. If your parents or grandparents were prone to panic attacks, they may have passed their characteristic onto you. Through no fault of your own, you may have been born with a genetic predisposition for panic attacks. Certain genes are dormant, only becoming active when met with a specific environmental trigger.

On the other hand, your lifestyle may be more of a problem than your genes. Certain lifestyles are more stressful than others. For instance, a lawyer who works 60-hour weeks likely has poorer health than an elementary school teacher who works 35-hour weeks. Similarly, someone who practices yoga is likely to be healthier than someone who drinks three cups of coffee a day. These habits we have developed over the years have deeply impacted our mental health. Thus, look no further than your lifestyle. Are you doing things to yourself that stress you out? Lose the Starbucks thermos, cut the cigarettes, and get some sleep and exercise.

Ideally, you want to avoid your triggers. If you are not exposed to your triggers, you won’t have panic attacks. Little changes to your lifestyle can go a long way to protect your sanity. However, some triggers are unavoidable. For example, it is difficult to avoid the smell of cigarettes, as you cannot control whether a passerby smokes or not. Thus, some patients try to accustom themselves to the trigger, by repeated exposing themselves to the unpleasant stimulus.

Before confronting your triggers, you should discuss this with your psychiatrist or doctor. He or she may have some pointers regarding this exercise, such as how long you should be in contact with the trigger, or what techniques you can use to fight your fear. Evidently, if you have a heart condition, this may not be a good exercise for you.

You don’t have to go on suffering with panic attacks. They can be effectively treated through a combination of panic drugs and cognitive therapy. Click here to learn more about panic attack medication and other treatment alternatives to help you start living a normal life again.

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