When you behave in a very apprehensive matter, you are unconsciously directing you body systems to prepare for something to happen.

This activate the body’s stress response, which causes the body to secrete stress hormones into the bloodstream where they travel to targeted spots in the body to bring about specific physiological, psychological, and emotional changes that enhance the body’s ability to deal with a threat — to either fight with or flee from it — which is the reason the stress response is often referred to as the fight or flight response or the emergency response.

This response is highly useful — it supercharges the body, making it better equipped and better prepared to deal with an imminent threat. It directs blood away from the organs, and into the muscles — making you ready to fight or flight.

Overstimulated emotional system breakdown

which causes the body to secrete stress hormones into the bloodstream where they travel to targeted spots in the body to bring about specific physiological, psychological, and emotional changes that enhance the body’s ability to deal with a threat — to either fight with or flee from it — which is the reason the stress response is often referred to as the fight or flight response or the emergency response

The problem however, is that in today’s modern world, rarely do you find yourself in a situation where you have to fight or flight to survive — much more common are stressful scenarios at work, running errands or commuting.

This is where the systems are going to be overstimulated — as the normal response is to look for more information, and gauge a better picture of the situation you are in — which in turn then overstimulates your system — making it exhaust your energy, with the consequence that it will divert more system energy — because it assumes a threat is imminent and needs your full focus.

These anxiety attacks can be self-induced or as it happens with many people that are facing a chronic anxiety situation — it can be induced subconsciously.