How Does Panic Cause Stress?

Panic and stress are rather closely connected. Stress can trigger panic, and at the same time panic can cause stress. This may lead to a vicious cycle, which contributes to the development of panic disorder in some people. Most of the time, when stress or a stressor triggers panic, the stress taps into underlying issues that the person has. This means the stress itself may not be the direct cause of the panic. It was a catalyst of sorts. However, there are some circumstances when stress seemingly causes panic. This is most easily seen in people with a panic personality.

The panic personality or a personality that makes a person more likely to suffer from panic attacks and/or panic disorder has not been proven or officially recognized by science and
Instead, these personality traits can create situations in which the person will develop many unresolved interpersonal conflicts and anxious feelings. This type of personality is also very susceptible to stress, which can add to the build up of anxious feelings within the person.

For example, a teenage girl with low self-esteem and a lack of confidence who has always depended on others for approval and has always been highly sensitive to criticism now has to move away to college. Her college is in a faraway state. Being away from her family and her comfort zone is a big stressor for her. She never tells her parents of her fears and anxiety. She pretends everything is okay.

Since she has always tried avoiding stressful situations, her being an introvert became more pronounced during her first two weeks of college. This was because she was afraid of what they would think of her, and she was anxious about how she would act. Now, college classes are in full swing and the girl finds that the simple act of stepping out the door of her dorm room triggers panic