There are two types of Panic or Anxiety Attack.
The Spontaneous, or Uncued.
This type simply happens! One second, you're fine.
The next, you're in the grip of one of these attacks.
They can occur at any time.
While you're asleep, even sitting and quietly relaxing.
In fact, although it does seem that these attacks hit us 'out of the blue,' it really isn't quite the case.
If you've had an attack or attacks previously, then your mind associates your present situation with one you were in previously when you had an attack.
The situation probably isn't the same.
For instance, you may have had an attack on an underground train, ( I did).
Now, at this moment, you may be sitting down on a couch surrounded by family and friends; on the face of it, a totally different situation.
But not to the mind.
Yes, but what's the cause of Panic Attacks? To the mind, you're sitting surrounded by people, as you were in the underground train, on a seat with someone sitting beside you.
So you see, although the emotional situation is completely different, the physical situation is virtually the same.
We covered this at a bit of a tangent in an earlier article, but it all goes back millions of years to the times when our ancestors were often, probably on a daily basis, in terrible danger from other tribes, from wild animals and countless other fears.
When you think about it, even a few hundred years ago, life was very different from what it is today.
There was plenty more from which to be physically afraid, so our old friends, fight or flight, are still very active in our make-up.
The parts of the brain that cause our fight or flight response are named the amygdalae.
They're the oldest parts of the brain and if, for any reason whatever, they sense that you're in danger, they'll automatically re-act.
Hence, the cause of panic/anxiety attacks.
Bear in mind that you and I are fairly certain that when we go out in the morning to work, shopping, or just for a walk, we're going to be safe.
We don't really give our safety a second thought.
But being in this position is very recent.
As I mentioned earlier, for millions of years, our ancestors were in daily danger.
The Amygdalae parts of the brain fire up when they sense a situation about which we have no idea.
That's why these attacks seem to come from nowhere.
In fact, they're a hangover from aeons past.
The second type of attack is the Situational, or cued, attack.
This happens usually when you've had more than one attack and you're in fear of another, or finding yourself in the same situation as before when you had an attack.
Usually, the symptoms become apparent as you enter the situation