There is a common conception that categorizes a panic attack as a mental illness. In order to properly understand whether or not this is true we need to take a look at what a panic attack really is. Also, we have to analyze what is the cause behind such manifestations and see how that has an impact on one’s body.

What is a Panic Attack?

A panic attack is defined as being a discrete, sudden period of intense fear, discomfort and anxiety. It is usually associated with a variety of different cognitive and somatic symptoms. We are dealing with a condition that usually shows an abrupt onset and in most cases no obvious trigger can be observed.

Panic attacks are considered to be a fight or flight that appears due to a context, thus flooding the body with different hormones (usually adrenalin) in order to aid it in a sensed need to defend from harm.

In most cases the symptoms of panic attacks will last for around 10 minutes. This is not always the case though and we can also notice smaller panic attacks of up to 5 minutes and even severe panic attacks that can even last for up to many hours.

In different situations that saw the individual suffer a panic attack in the past, he/she can also experience anticipatory anxiety, which can also be felt in between attacks.

Different individuals will get different affecting levels from panic attacks. Those that already got through many in the past might also be able to eliminate the panic attack without even anyone noticing that it might have appeared.

On the other hand, individuals that suffer from panic attacks for the first time will usually call for emergency services as they might be thinking they are having a nervous breakdown or even a heart attack.

What Causes Panic Attacks?

There are different possible causes for developing panic attacks. Once we get to learn about them we will see whether or not panic attacks are mental illnesses or not.

We need to analyze the cause in order to understand the effect with any medical condition out there, including this one. First off we have long term, predisposing causes, mainly based on heredity.

Some panic disorders do run in families and inheritance genes do play an important part in determining who will suffer from them in the future. It must also be understood that you can suffer from panic disorders if you did not have cases running in your family.

Panic attacks are also caused by different possible biological causes. This includes obsessive compulsive disorder, hypoglycemia, hyperthyroidism, post traumatic stress disorder, Wilson’s Syndrome, Vitamin B deficiency, mitral valve prolapse and inner ear disturbances and a whole lot more. Phobias can also generate panic attacks when the individual is met with a phobic situation or object.

Some situations might also cause short term triggers for panic attacks. This includes personal loss, a significant life change, different stimulants like nicotine and caffeine, drugs like marijuana or psilocybin and so on.

Panic attacks can also appear as side effects of some drugs. An example can be given in Ritalin but it is definitely not the only one. We are dealing with two possible outcomes in this situation.

We will either notice panic attacks appearing only when the patient gets the first medication or it might continue even after the individual will get used to the drug. In such a situation it is highly recommended that an alternative medication routine is researched as panic attacks caused by drugs are hard to live with. Most SSRIs will cause increased anxiety at the beginning of use.

People suffering from Hyperventilation Syndrome are also prone to develop panic attacks. Chest breathing is known to be a cause for over breathing as excess in exhalation of carbon dioxide when compared to the oxygen in your blood will cause this over breathing.

Also, people that suffered a panic attack in the past will be more likely to get a new one when a certain situation that is similar to that which was seen at the first attack takes place.

This basically means that individuals can get a cognitive or behavioral predisposition towards getting a panic attack in different situations. Pharmacological triggers can also have a direct impact.

There are different stimulants, depressants, chemical substances that have the power of pharmacologically contributing to a list of possible triggers. The most common examples can be given in alcohol, amphetamine or caffeine but there are many more that could be mentioned.

In this case, people that suffer from panic attacks might even develop a phobia for one drug or different chemicals.

 
So, Are Panic Attacks Mental Illnesses?

As everybody can see from the list of causes attached to panic attacks we can sum everything up with a simple: No, panic attack is not a mental illness.

On the other hand, we could say that there are similarities but the best we can do is to consider them coincidences and the medical condition at hand is simply a cognitive or somatic behavioral situation that has a damaging impact on the human body.

In order to treat it, some practices have been developed and a huge step towards curing the patient stands in getting him to confront the external elements that are causing the anxiety episodes.

Treatment options will vary exactly based on the cause and the trigger, combined with an analysis to the gravity of the panic attack exhibited. In most cases treating the problem is quite easy but there is also the possibility that it might require months of treatment and strong medication in order to end up with completely removing the situation of suffering from a new panic attack.

Also, although panic attacks are not a mental illness, they can be cured in some circumstances with the aid of mental processes based on the power of the human mind. Relaxation techniques for instance have had a huge success in dealing with patients suffering from the condition.