Why do I suddenly have panic attacks in situations that aren't even triggering?
9 Answers
Last Updated: 04/23/2018 at 4:02am
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Jennifer Patterson, LMFT
Art Therapist
Life can be messy. Sometimes you need a little support to make your way through it. I love to help guide people through their challenges & to find the beauty in our messes.
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This type of panic attack could potentially be the result of an internal trigger event, whether caused intentionally or unintentionally.
If you find yourself panicking for seemingly no reason, your brain might've somehow encountered one or more of your triggers, and subconsciously activated your fight or flight response due to being conditioned that these triggers are bad/scary/anxiety-provoking.
Internal triggers can be hard to definitively identify because the category and possibilities are so broad. For example, you could've been triggered by a rogue thought, a familiar scent that reminds you of your triggers, a phrase that your brain subconsciously identifies with your triggers, etc.
The best thing to do for these types of panic attacks is to ride them out like a wave or a storm. Let the emotions pass, while still keeping yourself safe throughout the attack. Remind yourself that everything is alright during the attack, and eventually the sensation will pass completely.
For me, it can happen at any time if there's a lot on my mind. It doesn't matter what my surroundings are like, just feeling unsettled about things can cause them. They can also happen out of fear of them happening again, like if I begin to think about what caused my last panic attacks, those thoughts come back to me and as much as I try avoiding them, it doesn't work and I just uncontrollably panic
Panic don't have attacks don't really have triggers. There is no specific cause for them, but studies show that sometimes they are genetic. So if anyone in your family experiences panic attacks then there is a greater risk or having them.
Because panic attacks are magical, terrible things, that grip our hearts and take us when they want. Our body has learned to panic, and it can be hard to stop. Panic begets panic - even a little hint can spiral us into a shuddering, gasping mess. You are not having a panic attack out of nowhere because you're seeking attention, crazy, or weak. You're human.
Everyone is different. There is no one answer fits all. If you are dealing with panic attacks in either situation that you can control perhaps seeking advice from a therapist or counselor can help in giving you coping skills.
Anonymous
September 28th, 2015 11:29am
Sometimes anxiety can build up over time, and a small trigger can cause something larger like a panic attack.
anything can trigger a panic attack depends on what you were thinking so on , could be a huge fear that causes it
I recently asked my therapist the same question because I had experienced panic attacks in situations that had no triggers that I identified and I did not have stress that usually accompanied my attacks. She guided me to my realization that while I have identified my mental triggers and emotional triggers my body still had conditioned physiological responses to parts of my environment that hadn't resolved yet. So that is a new focus of my continued efforts at a healthier life.
Anonymous
April 23rd, 2018 4:02am
You can have sudden panic attacks in situations that aren’t even triggering by being afraid to new people or even afraid of danger that will arise.
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