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As a therapist, one of the most important things we can do is help our clients understand the origins of their emotions so they can be managed. Especially when dealing with anxiety, it’s important to be aware that each person’s experience with it is unique to them. Every aspect of their background is important. Family history, childhood trauma, diet, and medical conditions can all play a role.

While some memories are by-the-numbers, profoundly stressful and emotional experiences are stored in our brains differently. Sometimes, those experiences can impact us far deeper than we realize—impacting the development of our brains and the balance of our emotions. Often, anxiety attacks are linked to past experiences—feelings of uncertainty and loss of safety.

What Is An Anxiety Attack?

If you’ve ever experienced an anxiety attack before, you know the signs. A sudden change in your heart rate. Sweating. Nausea. Shortness of breath. Sometimes they can be triggered by a specific event, like a deadline at work or school; other times, they seem to come on for absolutely no reason at all. Even mundane tasks like grocery shopping, going out for a drive, or attending a meeting at the office can trigger an anxiety attack.

In those cases, it can be hard to understand where the anxiety attack originates. Because there isn’t a clear cause and other people don’t struggle with those activities, it can become a source of shame. Fear of the anxiety attack itself becomes a source of anxiety. When that happens, anxiety attacks become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

At the same time, in an attempt to search for the causes and solutions, our brain begins to associate anxiety with normal or mundane tasks and situations which can cause us to avoid them. Sometimes, it gets to the point of affecting our daily functioning and limiting the range of our experiences.

Early Childhood & Trauma

Often, anxiety stems from traumatic, emotional experiences. A kind of hypervigilance often causes anxiety. Extended periods of stress can trigger long-term overproduction of cortisol, adrenaline, and other stress hormones. In some cases, the brain changes due to prolonged exposure to those hormones. Even a single traumatic experience can be enough to cause permanent changes in the function of the brain.

Memories like those might become extraordinarily sharp or fuzzy and difficult to recall. Sensory experiences attached to such memories can trigger an anxiety attack. The smell of sweat. A raised voice. The background bustle and noise of a busy street. It can be difficult to predict the connections the brain will make.

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Other Common Origins of Anxiety Attacks

There are, of course, other origins of anxiety attacks. These may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Family Genetics
  • Medical Conditions
  • Drug Abuse
  • Caffeine Sensitivity
  • Chronic Stress
  • Perfectionism

In many of these cases, the root cause of the anxiety attacks remains the same. Imbalances in the production of hormones lead to a heightened state of anxiety. 

Common Triggers

When dealing with anxiety attacks, it’s a good idea to take a step back and analyze their history in your life. Most people experience anxiety attacks on an infrequent basis, but for those who experience them often, it’s important to learn what triggers them.

Examples of triggers include:

  • Major Life Changes (moving or getting a new job)
  • Relationship Trouble (fear of abandonment, feelings of loneliness or betrayal)
  • Healthcare Issues (medications, general poor health, fear of a serious diagnosis)
  • Social Situations (fear of crowds, public speaking, judgment, meeting new people, etc.)
  • Anticipatory Dread (usually related to phobias; fear of heights, embarrassment, etc.)
  • Sensory Triggers (smells, sounds, sensations, tastes, etc.)
  • Grief \ Mourning (loss of a loved one, relationship, or similar traumatic event)

Understanding your triggers will help you manage them when they come up. If you feel an anxiety attack coming on, take a moment to step back. Engage your senses to distract yourself.

Getting Treatment for Anxiety Attacks in North Carolina

We offer a wide array of highly effective treatments for dealing with anxiety attacks, such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). EMDR and EMDR Intensives are extraordinary tools to help you identify, process, and clear memories or prior traumas that may be triggering your anxiety attacks. Reach out today if you’re done letting anxiety attacks dictate how you live your life.