Did you ever realize that the surrounding environment and people that interact with you everyday have a huge impact on your mental health? Many of you might say yes, and use high school as an example. Now, when it comes to mental health, if protective factors like simply listening to music, taking a walk, hanging out with loved ones aren't taken, it can result in many risks. However, when it comes to mental health, nothing is ever straightforward, specifically panic disorders, as there is no exact nature of risk factors.
Despite that, one thing we know for certain is a person's likelihood of acquiring panic disorder is considered to rise if they have a close relative who has the condition. And some possible risks as a result of the surrounding people and environment could be...
Temperament that is more sensitive to stress or prone to negative emotions
Major stress
Certain changes in the way parts of your brain function
SO WHAT RISK FACTORS?
Some questions that might be rising at this point are what are risk factors specifically? When it comes to panic disorder, a traumatic event, major life change, history of childhood physical or sexual abuse, or even a highly continuous stressful environment can cause panic attacks.
possible risk factors | example |
traumatic event | For instance, a heated family quarrel may enhance the autonomic nervous system's arousal, raising the possibility of hyperventilation symptoms that may finally result in panic attacks. |
major changes in your life | Stress, which is unavoidable throughout a divorce, causes your mind to immediately begin striving to protect your wellbeing. Your body shifts into the fight-or-flight mode, which can save your life in an emergency, as signals rush from your brain and into your body in a matter of seconds. Your body cannot distinguish between a divorce and an emergency or a life-threatening circumstance. It's common to get a small panic attack when worried about the future. The conflict you go through during divorce may be brought on by issues like child custody, property split, or other things. |
history of childhood physical or sexual abuse | One of the most important risk factors for adult anxiety is childhood trauma, which includes physical, emotional, and sexual abuse as well as neglect, exposure to domestic violence, parental substance misuse, and abandonment. Childhood trauma can put someone at risk for developing anxiety and panic disorders in a number of ways, including by causing unpredictable childhood situations, altering how one experiences physical sensations, and altering brain structure and function. |
CONCLUSION
Overall, a number of circumstances, such as traumatic experiences, divorce, and abuse, can cause panic disorder, a mental health disease. These elements can be particularly difficult since they frequently involve events that are beyond our control. Events that are traumatic, including severe accidents or natural catastrophes, can have a long-term effect on mental health. While abuse may have long-lasting negative impacts on one's physical and mental health, divorce can also be a source of worry and anxiety.
RESOURCES
Henely, J. (n.d.). Divorce anxiety and panic attacks: 3 things to know. Grace
Moitra, E., Dyck, I., Beard, C., Bjornsson, A. S., Sibrava, N. J., Weisberg, R. B., & Keller, M. B. (2011). Impact of stressful life events on the course of panic disorder in adults. Journal of affective disorders, 134(1-3), 373–376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2011.05.029
Dealing with anxiety from childhood abuse. (n.d.). EndCAN. https://endcan.org/
2021/09/14/dealing-with-anxiety-from-childhood-abuse/ #:~:text=Trauma%20from%20childhood%20abuse%E2%80%94including,risk%20factors%20for%20adult%20anxiety
Comments