Panic – Are Some People More Susceptible?

Are some people more prone to panic attacks than others? In short, yes. There are actual Physical differences have been observed among people who are prone to panic attacks compared to the average person. The following list outlines some of these differences.

1) Sensitivity to adrenalin and hormonal changes

In many cases, people with panic disorders (including agoraphobia) have adrenal glands that overproduce. Because of this, they are more likely to experience an adrenaline rush or “fight or flight” response when faced with a perceived psychological threat. This causes then to be more prone to panic attacks.

In patients with common panic symptoms, during times of extended stress, adrenaline and a hormone called cortisol (a stress fighting hormone) are overproduced by the adrenal gland.

This overproduction inhibits with the production of serotonin and dopamine. Serotonin and dopamine are neurotransmitters that stabilize a person’s mood and sense of well-being. When levels of dopamine and serotonin become low, your mood becomes unstable and you are less capable of fighting off stress.

In this state of chemical imbalance, you become more easily fatigued, your immune system is compromised, and you are more at risk for experiencing anxiety and panic attacks. Even after the original stressor is gone, you are more likely to remain in a higher state of anxiety.

2) Sensitivity to medications

A higher than normal sensitivity to medications,  including side effects, is observed among panic disorder patients. The side effects and/or withdrawal symptoms for some medications, including anti-anxiety medications, often be similar to the symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks themselves. Because of this, medications prescribed to people who exhibit panic symptoms should be prescribed in smaller doses at first and then increased gradually as little as possible.

3) Sensitivity to physical stimulus

People who have panic attacks usually are more sensitive to temperature changes, sudden or loud sounds, bright lights, or other similar sources of physical stimuli. Physical stimulus can often overwhelm someone with panic disorder, create an aura of disorientation, and lead to a release of adrenaline (triggering the “fight or flight” reaction).

4) Sensitivity to large amounts of sodium lactate

Large amounts of sodium lactate in the bloodstream have been found by some researchers to cause panic attacks in people with panic disorder. When muscles convert sugar to energy, sodium lactate is produced. It is the basic solution in intravenous fluids given in the hospital.

In one study, panic disorder patients experienced a dramatic increase in blood flow to the temporal lobes of the brain when given sodium lactate. These are the same areas of the brain affected when subjects in other studies (who do not have panic disorder) are given an electric shock!