For some this can be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, while for others it just their certain mode of thinking that causes the attacks. The purpose of this panic attack self help guide is to give any new or veteran sufferer of panic attacks a few helpful tips. Tip one: Panic attacks are all in your head. Being paralyzed by fear is a very real notion to those that suffer with panic attacks on a regular basis. The Cause The cause for a panic attack is not usually obvious, but it is something that is generally “normal” as a part of a regular stressful modern life. The development of a panic attack disorder is usually associated with a lack of proper coping skills more than it is a brain function or a biological illness as the idea behind panic is a poor management of stressful situations. Fear of Losing Control Another anxiety attack symptom that is almost always present in an attack is the fear of losing control. This fear comes from the seemingly uncontrollable symptoms that precede like becoming light headed with a racing heart, and shortness of breath. It is a natural feeling for us to feel as if we are losing control of our own bodies. Anxiety is also closely related to (but not the cause of) a condition called mitral valve prolapse or MVP. Panic attacks generate a common human response to danger: the “fight or flight” response. This was said to evolve from early human types that either fled danger or took it on if they could. Some Symptoms of an Anxiety Attack One of the main symptoms of an anxiety attack is extreme fear. Now, fear may be acknowledged as a symptom of anxiety, but in reality it is just the end result of the real symptoms. Before fear sets in, you are likely to experience one or more symptoms of anxiety which lead you to the fear. If an anxiety attack is not handled properly, the heart takes punishment first and other bodily organs follow. The brain dedicates its energy elsewhere, the lungs work harder, the heart pumps faster, and the blood thins due to lack of cellular support. Effectively a panic attack is a multi-system attacker as oppose to being just about one organ or bodily system.