The Cause of an Anxiety Attack in Todays World What is the cause of anxiety attack? In today’s world anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness. In the United States alone 40 million (18.1%) of the adult population is affected. These numbers are on the increase all over the world, demanding immediate attention. Add in an already depressed view of the world, a worry that others find no worth in you, and you have a recipe for one miserable person. Health care professionals are learning that the instances of panic attack and depression coinciding together are more common that thought. While not everyone who is depressed will have panic attacks, many people who suffer from panic may very well be depressed. Anxiety attacks appear for a reason, generally that the handling of life’s stressful situations is not adequate to help the body adjust. They appear to be random but normally are not. They appear to be without cause but normally have a very clear cause: stress. An anxiety disorder panic attack will continue to occur only because the sufferer has not done enough to prevent it by not handling the stress properly and allowing other factors to interfere with normal stress management. When a person experiences an extremely stressful, or traumatic, event the body will react. A release of chemicals into a persons system will cause an extreme reaction to the situation. An anxiety panic attack occurs when the chemicals are triggered by a reactive stressor. There is no need for it, but the body assumes there is some danger it must react to, this is a panic attack. Lifestyle is Key It is also important to examine your lifestyle. If your anxiety levels are interrupting your ability to “live a normal life”, it is probably time to consult a professional. There are some signs or “red flags” to consider when determining if you are a candidate for a mental health professional that include: feeling unable to work, feeling unable to keep your normal behavior patterns or appearance or hygiene patterns, cutting off social connections, trouble sleeping, trouble eating, and trouble bathing. This method utilizes visualization, breathing and relaxation techniques to fend off the symptoms of a panic attack when they occur. Another option that some sufferers choose to help control panic attack symptoms is to actually face the fears. For some, gradually confronting the situations that cause panic can help eradicate them.