People who experience panic attacks naturally want to get rid of them as quickly as possible. However, lasting relief can only be achieved if all potential triggers are identified and addressed. Unfortunately, this rarely happens, which is why many people suffer from anxiety and panic much longer than necessary.
Even in therapy, only a fraction of the potential causes are usually addressed. The focus is often on just one or two triggers, which may leave other causes overlooked.
The Most Common Causes of Panic Attack Disorder
Some of the most common causes of panic attacks include:
- Stress at work or within the family
- Drug abuse
- Hereditary predisposition
- Undiagnosed anxiety disorders or phobias
- Traumatic experiences
- Anxious personality traits
- Thyroid disorders
- Heart conditions
- Nervous system disorders
Surprising Triggers of Panic Attacks You Might Be Missing
Many other causes that can lead to panic attacks are often overlooked. These include:
- Roemheld Syndrome (a condition where digestive issues trigger panic symptoms)
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Side effects of certain medications
- Negative thought patterns
- Incorrect dosage of thyroid medication
- Misinformation from social media
- Excessive consumption of energy drinks
- Food intolerances
- Cervical spine (neck) problems
- Therapy approach that doesn’t match personality type
Start Your Journey to Lasting Relief
If you’re ready to finally understand why previous treatments haven’t worked and identify triggers that may have been overlooked, we recommend our online therapy program, How to Calm Anxiety. In 52 videos, with a total runtime of 7 hours, we guide you step-by-step through all potential causes of anxiety and panic, helping you find relief through simple tests and detailed questions.
Join over 16,000 former anxiety patients who have transformed their lives with our program. Here’s what one of our participants had to say:
“This program gave me the tools I needed to understand my anxiety and finally feel in control again.”
Panic Attack Causes: Common Misconceptions You Should Know About
When searching online for the causes of panic attacks, you’ll often come across explanations that are scientifically outdated. For example, it’s commonly suggested that an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain triggers panic attacks. Specifically, low levels of serotonin or norepinephrine are frequently blamed, with recommendations to take antidepressants to restore balance.
However, recent studies show that these medications are barely more effective than placebos for many people. Health experts argue that focusing solely on neurotransmitter imbalances can mean that real causes go unnoticed and untreated.
For this reason, you’ll find additional blog articles here about lesser-known triggers and misconceptions surrounding panic attacks—insights that are essential for anyone on the path to recovery:
