What triggers random anxiety and panic attacks when nothing is going on?
235 Answers
Last Updated: 08/13/2023 at 9:01pm
Moderated by
Smita Joshi, BA Psychology / MA / Advanced EFT Practitioner
Counselor
I am empathetic with my Clients going through emotional overwhelm and passionate in helping them. I am supportive, openminded & interactive in helping my clients.
Top Rated Answers
It happens if I am under some kind of inner preessure. When something bad from the past like flashback occures. Sometimes inner voice is telling me that I am gay. It must be becouse I was violated once while beeing on 3MMC. It is like some kind of deep trauma. Also I have issues with my right eye condition. But I hope that they are going to perform operation on me. Often I have that felling that I am not going to be good student. I do not take care of my teeth enough and sometimes I think that I am going to loose some teeth.
Anonymous
October 28th, 2020 5:56pm
Triggers are extremely different and random for each one of us as it relates to the trauma we might have experienced. There are a few types of triggers: smell, sound, situation, taste, media and words. We might forget a trauma but our brain never does, so when a familiar sound for example is heard, our brain takes itself back on that particular moment when the trauma happened, which triggers the panic state. I am not a professional health care profession and all the information on this answer I've learned from reading and watching videos. I hope it can help answer your question even just a little. Take care!
In life, there are some things that keeps going inside our head even if that event or situation happened a long time ago. I think random anxiety panic attacks are caused by triggers on social media or around us. There are times when we see triggers around us that ofcourse doesn't have a trigger warning so we weren't able to brace ourselves for panic attacks or anxiety that it may cause. Another thing when nothing is going on in ourlives we have more time to overthink things until we hit a spot that could give us an anxiety trigger.
Health issues might trigger anxiety. (Cancer etc.) it may make the anxiety worse. Medications such as birth control pill, weight loss pill may trigger anxiety. Some people drink Caffeine when they wake up. Caffeine Triggers anxiety. Skipping meals
When you don’t eat, your blood sugar may drop. That can lead to jittery hands and a rumbling tummy. It can also trigger anxiety. Negative thinking
Your mind controls much of your body, and that’s certainly true with anxiety. When you’re upset or frustrated, the words you say to yourself can trigger greater feelings of anxiety. Parties-If a room full of strangers doesn’t sound like fun, you’re not alone. Events that require you to make small talk or interact with people you don’t know can trigger feelings of anxiety, which may be diagnosed as social anxiety disorder.
Anonymous
February 16th, 2021 12:42am
A lot of the time there are “triggers†all around us and we don’t even realize it. For example, certain smells or sounds can activate anxiety. Therefore, if the sound of an ambulance is happening at a distance or there’s a specific smell coming from outside, your conscious mind might not recognize it immediately, yet it might be registered by your brain and an anxiety attack ensues. This is why it might be important to become familiar with what triggers you. If you know this information then you might be better attuned at identifying them in your surroundings and gain better control of what happens next
Even "happy" or more pleasurable experiences (i.e., getting married, coming into a relationship, getting your dream job, graduating school, passing a test, making up with your friend, etc.) can bring on symptoms relating to anxiety and panic attacks. In addition, we are not capable of being able to be aware of everything going on. This is where seeking support to help explore the situation with an adequate form of support can help to identify sneaky experiences that we aren't aware of. So, perceived "good events", "bad events", and "nothing" can all impact our anxiety or panic attacks. This is normal. An important thing is to seek our adequate forms of support to explore the issue in order to identify, name, develop strategies, and learn to live with your experiences. You're not alone and there are literally millions of people who also don't know where there anxiety and panic attacks stem from.
Anonymous
March 5th, 2021 3:33am
Subconsciously your mind is always working, so even if you think nothing is going on, there could be something in the back of your mind causing it. Brains are always working, even if we’re not consciously aware of it. The best thing to do would be to sit down and write down everything that is worrying you, no matter how big or how small. Recognize them, acknowledge them, and if you can, try to set up a strategy to work through and deal with these things. This can help organize your thoughts and break down problems in a more solve-able way.
Anonymous
March 11th, 2021 7:31am
With random panic attacks, your body goes on alert for no reason. Researchers don’t know exactly what triggers them. But the physical effects are real: During a panic attack, the adrenaline levels in the body can spike by 2 1/2 times or more.
Panic attacks may not come as unexpectedly as they seem. The physical changes may start about an hour before an attack. In one study, people with panic disorder wore devices that tracked their heart activity, sweating, and breathing. The results showed lower-than-normal levels of carbon dioxide, a sign of rapid, deep breathing that can leave you breathless, as early as about 45 minutes before the panic attack.
For me personally, even the really little things can trigger an anxiety and/or panic attack for me. Whether it being the wind is too aggressive, or even someone whispering. Some people do have it worse than others when it comes to anxiety and panic attacks. I know people and am a person who gets panic and/or anxiety attacks by the really simple and little things. Other times I've have a random trigger is when I can't get a question right in school, or even when I accidently color outside the lines. I know it can be hard, but it does gradually get better.
It's when your mind perceives that a threat is there. Often we are unaware of it but the body enters fight of flight mode and even if it happens suddenly it will pass. Sometimes triggers are there but you might not notice it or realize it. But often we can get clarity once the panic attack is over and we can reflect on why the panic and anxiety attack started. What triggers and random anxiety and/or anxiety attack is always unique and depends on both the situation and on the person. But even though it feels like '"nothing is going on" there is a trigger but you need to find out what that trigger is. Sometimes it can be physical and other times it can be emotional triggers
I believe random anxiety and panic attacks get triggered by feeling stressed towards a certain situation. For me, anxiety occurs when I feel like I have missed something important and I haven't found a way to solve it. In addition, There may not be anything going on at the moment, but instead there may be some thoughts that trigger these anxiety or panic attacks. We all feel these types of anxiety in all different ways, some are harder to explain and control but at the end of the day they are controllable. It is important to stay calm and relax.
Anonymous
May 2nd, 2021 10:44pm
Sometimes it can be built up emotion or the anxiety of having attacks itself. Sometimes if I feel just one somatic symptom of either, it can also trigger an attack. For example, nausea is one of the symptoms of my anxiety attack. Therefore, when I get nauseous for normal reasons, it tends to trigger a panic attack as well. As for bottled up emotions, you have no idea how much we hold onto. Even seemingly small things like reading the news or social media, can build up over time and lead us to have smaller capacity for emotions and anxiety. Its important to continue emptying your "capacity cup" so that it does not overflow into a panic attack through healthy coping mechanisms
Anonymous
May 12th, 2021 6:42pm
It can be hard to tell what triggers anxiety and panic attacks when it seems there is no immediate and obvious environmental or emotional trigger. However, sometimes, a history of trauma or anxiety can lead to generalized anxiety that acts up sporadically. Another potential cause of unexpected or "random" anxiety and panic is that certain physiological symptoms like sweating, rapid heart rate, and rapid or shallow breathing can sometimes mimic the symptoms of anxiety or panic attacks. This is why the body's symptoms alone (even without an emotional or environmental cause) are sometimes enough to trigger anxiety and panic attacks.
Anonymous
May 19th, 2021 4:48pm
Thinking about my future and about how my past decisions would affect my future. And I always end up thinking about worst-case scenarios. And then I end up having a panic attack and it ruins my mood for a couple of days. Even if I do everything I can to try and not think about it by keeping myself busy, it just keeps building up and one day nothing helps distract me and these breakdowns are bigger than the previous ones. If I'm having a panic attack and breakdowns and I don't completely cry it out because I have work to do, I feel like crying every minute for a few days after that. If I do try to cry it out it usually takes a few hours or even a day to feel somewhat normal again.
Anonymous
May 26th, 2021 11:39pm
You have to take a breath and think carefully. What has change since the last few days. Is there any pattern with how many you are experiencing the anxiety or panic attacks? You have to think about the possibility what might cause it so you can know what’s the problem in order to fix it. Have you talked to other people about what you are currently experiencing? What do you usually do when you have anxiety or panic attacks? Breathing exercise will be a good example. Sometimes when we are face with the unknown it is normal to feel anxious
Anonymous
June 11th, 2021 1:28pm
Panic attacks are grouped into two categories: expected and unexpected. Expected attacks are triggered by events that you know trigger the attacks, such as meetings with other people, accomplishing a task, etc. What you're asking for falls into the second category: unexpected panic attacks which do not have a specific trigger. By definition, they do not have a trigger, so it's hard to say which comorbid symptom is the cause. Some general things to consider, which are directly related to panic, are the amount of stress (generally) you are under, your physical health, how well you slept last night, and your thought processes throughout the day.
Feeling stuck can cause random anxiety and panic attacks when it seems like nothing else is going on. When you feel like you are living through the same stressors everyday, feelings of being stuck may surface. A change in routine or talking with a friend can give the extra boost needed to break the shackles of anxiety. It may feel like a weight has been lifted after a chat with a friend. Taking a walk to refresh, or listening to relaxing music can help break up the monotony of the daily cycle that is creating anxious feelings. Trust yourself to build your strengths and confidence.
Based on my personal experience when someone has an attack while nothing is going on its mostly because of over thinking. Meaning they are thinking of all their past faults and wrong doings and of all the things that can possibly go wrong in their life. Like their partner not liking them anymore, if they're not good enough, failing their class...
And nothing is going on doesn't mean NOTHING IS GOING ON. Things might seem calm but our minds are a dangerous place that can turn even the brightest times into sorrow. So it's no wonder attacks are triggered.
Anonymous
September 18th, 2021 10:27pm
Sometimes emotional trauma could be a factor in anxiety or panic attacks. If a person has had trauma and it has been unresolved for years, it can manifest in anxiety and panic attacks. Sometimes a word, or a smell can bring back the trauma or just having a flashback can bring the trauma back. I believe it is kind of like a ptsd episode. All of a sudden a person can go from just being fine to a full blown attack where he is left unhinged. Sometimes it comes out of the blue and you must wait until it subsides.
Anxiety is a very physical reaction. There are triggers in the enviorment sometimes- a part of the 5 sences that activates the part of your brain that a memory is stored and repressed.
You can feel anxiety for no reason whatsoever- which has to do with biology. In those cases, I find the best solution is to use medication or breathing exersizes. It's frustrating and confusing, so just remember to be patient with yourself. We all have to work to figure out are emotions. Just because nothing is wrong in the external enviorment does't mean there isn't something going on internally. Look inside yourself.
The underlying thought and emotions or the memories of certain events. Even an anticipation of a certain object or an event can trigger anxiety or pain attacks. Such as overthinking about the spouse's death when she/he is in ICU can trigger panic attacks. In this example though a little something is going on but it is in the head of the individual not in reality as the spouse in the above example is under 24/7 supervision and care of the highly trained medical professionals. Random anxiety is generated by underlying sources of fear that one might or is struggling to bring in consciousness for the same reason that it is, troublesome. Which is why people who have suffered from severe trauma usually forget the whole incidence or the event as a defence mechanism as it is easier for them to function without the memory.
Sometimes it can be a smell, or a sound. Something that can be seemingly unnecessary but is also connected to the traumatic event (or what led up to it) or memory. It can also be associated with touch as well. Some times these potential triggers can’t be avoided, because there are factors in the environment that can seem similar to what one has gone through. It doesn’t make any week, or mean they are overacting. It just means there is some healing that needs to be address. Much of this is up to the individual though. It can be difficult and scary to continue to heal a wound you thought was better. It’s ok to feel fear.
I would say mostly focusing on negative thoughts. Most anxiety attacks come from pent-up stress and negative emotions, and it builds up to the point where the extreme panic starts to set in. I'm not an expert obviously, but from my experience attacks would always happen when I was really anxious about something and overexaggerated it's importance. It may seem like "nothing is going on" at the time in your environment, but a swarm of dark thoughts could be manifesting in your brain. The main way to immediately combat anxiety attacks that I use is to distract myself. By redirecting my attention to something else, my brain won't be focusing on what got me to such a state in the first place. I highly recommend finding something to comfort you and redirect your attention in times where you feel a anxiety attack coming on. It could be anything, but any comfort shows, videos, games, foods, etc. work great. I usually put on an episode of my favorite show! And by going back to something you know and are familiar with, you can ground yourself.
From a personal perspective, anxiety and panic attacks can be triggered by underlying thoughts or emotions - sometimes, these lie more within the unconscious. I have found that reflecting upon my previous week can help me to identify any conflict, events, or other issues that may have been undesirable that could be triggering these acts of anxiety and panic. This can help me to remain mindful moving forward of possible triggers. I have also found that major events, loss, and other undesirable experiences can build within a person if they do not discuss these experiences with others - resulting in a random and unexpected burst of emotions.
Sometimes when we are idle or when there is nothing really going on around us, our minds tend to drift away. This is when we begin overthinking, reminiscing, or simply just reflecting on our past actions or other people's actions. Sometimes, this is what triggers random anxiety and panic attacks although it seems like nothing is going on. When people feel anxious, it is usually caused by something else. It may be because you are bothered by a situation or something may have happened which may have caused you to feel this way. The best way to deal with this is to practice mindfulness and do breathing exercises. That way you will be able to calm yourself and reassess things better.
Talk to an expert therapist
Finding a therapist can be difficult at times. I’m glad you’ve made the...
Talk to Crystal NowRelated Questions: What triggers random anxiety and panic attacks when nothing is going on?
How do I get over feeling that everyone is going to leave me?Everything in my life is messed up. Motivation works temporarily and I'm not suicidal but feel it's pointless to live like this. What should I do to feel hopeful? How can I get what I need from my doctor? I feel extremely sick whenever I leave my house, what can I do? I have trouble with my school work due to procrastinating. And my anxiety always gets in the way. How do I get things done?A family member thinks I am lying about where I am going but I'm not, what should I do?How do I know if I did the right thing?Is it hard to think critically about something you love?How do I overcome the fear of cashiers?How can I convince myself that my friends don't hate me? I have this irrational fear that they actually hate me.