Triggers and Modern Life

So what are the triggers? Can they be avoided? Once recovered, will they ever come back?

So what are the triggers? There are plenty of reasons why they can start: drugs, angst, depression, stress, pressure, major life changes, upsets. But they can also start with seemingly no reason. None of this matters. The cause does not matter. Most psychologists have discovered that the reason they start is not important, only the understanding of the attacks themselves. Many panic attack sufferers never know the cause but it hasn't hindered their recovery or led them to have recurrent episodes. N.B. I still don't know what caused mine but I'm fully recovered!

Can they be avoided? No and that's the wrong way of thinking. Let them come, let them happen, let them do their worst, let them 'take' you. Once you fully surrender to a panic attack and feel it for what it is - a harmless bodily response - you'll never look back. You'll be cured. Why? Because you are no longer scared of your body's own 'flight or fight' mechanism. You are safe in the knowledge that it is there to SAVE your life. It has merely been accidentally triggered. N.B. When I sat through my last panic attack, I smiled all the way through it. :o)

Once recovered will they ever come back? Not likely... and who cares? If they do, you know what they are and how to deal with them. Just do nothing. Let it pass. Smile through it like I did. It's a harmless bodily response to a non-existent, life threatening situation.

My theory on modern life:
No matter how much our salaries are, if we shop at New Look or Selfridges, prefer men or women, live in the city or country, like minimalism or modern art - one thing links us all; We are human beings, part of the food chain. Top of it, granted, but in it nonetheless. In other words, we are still creatures on planet Earth. Our bodies have evolved from Neanderthal to how we are now. Survival of the fittest was the only rule that got us here. When Neanderthal man was out hunting or gathering food, he always had his wits about him. When faced with danger, his fight or flight mechanism got him back to his cave safely or out of harm's way. His bodily responses were natural and in balance. I doubt Neanderthal man EVER had a panic attack. Why would he? Life was simpler back then, the only instinct was survival. Neanderthal man wasn't striving for promotion, a better car and lifestyle, struggling to balance home-life with a career, pondering his life and where it might take him. The very thought is ridiculous! Yet it's what we do.
Our lifespan has more than tripled since then, we're no longer concerned IF we survive, but HOW. Is it no wonder then, that our responses are adapting? With no lions and tigers to run from - our senses are instead alerting us to emotional dangers. When you were standing over the sink contemplating the mountain of dishes yet to be washed, you were experiencing an emotion - dread. Simple right? You experience dread all the time; when the housework needs to be done, when that annoying neighbour rings the doorbell, when you have to go to work when all you really want is to stay in bed. But on this occasion your body says, ok, I'll rescue you, you're primed for flight, let's run away! But you don't. The adrenaline courses through your veins but you're still rooted to the spot (or possibly pacing the kitchen floor by now) but you're not running from the life-threatening danger of the dishes. Are you?