| | | | | cells, the skin, the gut, the brain, the heart and the lungs. |
| There is a response that the body takes to fear and | | | | It therefore has a great effect on each of these and |
| threatening situations and that is to release chemicals | | | | can cause a lot of distress if it is not balanced properly |
| and hormones into the blood stream. It is a result of the | | | | with the other hormones released into the body. |
| release of these hormones into the body that we get | | | | Noradrenaline or norepinephrine |
| the responses we do to fear or threat situations. This | | | | A variety of stressful events, including emotional stress, |
| does not mean that you are experiencing panic attack | | | | cause a marked increase in noradrenaline release in |
| symptoms but merely this is the way the body deals | | | | several of the brain regions, and especially in the |
| with these kinds of situations. | | | | hypothalamus, amygdala and locus coeruleus. These |
| As I have discussed in other articles there is a | | | | findings suggest that an increased noradrenaline |
| response that the body takes to fear and threatening | | | | release could be closely related to the provocation of |
| situations and that is to release chemicals and | | | | negative emotions such as anxiety and/or fear. There |
| hormones into the blood stream. It is a result of the | | | | have been lab studies too that indicate that activation |
| release of these hormones into the body that we get | | | | of nerves that contain noradrenaline can cause |
| the responses we do to fear or threat situations. This | | | | anxiety and also that high levels of the by-products of |
| does not mean that you are experiencing panic attack | | | | this hormone are found in the brain system when |
| symptoms but merely this is the way the body deals | | | | people are anxious. |
| with these kinds of situations. | | | | Serotonin |
| There are four main chemicals or hormones released | | | | This chemical seems to be important in depression as |
| into the body and these are: | | | | it acts as the messenger between the nerve cells and |
| Adrenaline ( epinephrine) | | | | for people who are feeling depressed this messenger |
| Noradrenaline ( norepinephrine) | | | | system may not be working properly. However an |
| Serotonin | | | | increase in serotonin levels can lead to anxiety, this is |
| Gamma-aminobutyric acid ( GABA) | | | | only if the increase is for a short period of time |
| I shall be dealing with each one in turn. | | | | because long periods of increased serotonin levels |
| There are many other chemicals that are also | | | | have shown to calm people down. This may be |
| released but as yet the knowledge of these and how | | | | because serotonin has effects on the other chemicals |
| they effect our body is very limited. | | | | in the brain by changing their concentration and as a |
| It is important that these chemicals are released in the | | | | result many of the drugs that are used in the |
| correct amounts into the body but with anxiety | | | | treatment of anxiety disorders have an effect on |
| problem sufferers this is not the case and too much of | | | | serotonin levels in the brain. |
| these chemicals are released causing an imbalance. It | | | | GABA |
| is this imbalance that may give rise to the thought of | | | | Many scientists believe that in anxiety the GABA |
| panic attack symptoms. | | | | activity is decreased and that nerves that contain |
| It is not clear why this happens to sufferers of anxiety | | | | GABA in the brain do generally calm people down. It is |
| problems but there are some ideas that it may be a | | | | for this reason that some of the drugs prescribed for |
| genetic problem which is triggered by a traumatic | | | | anxiety problems are believed to work by increasing |
| event, or that these changes in the brain chemicals | | | | the function of the GABA containing nerves and |
| that the scientists are seeing is actually the result of | | | | therefore calming people down even more. |
| anxiety and not the cause of it. | | | | So by explaining in quite some detail the workings of |
| Let us begin with Adrenaline or epinephrine. | | | | the hormones in the body you can see that panic |
| This hormone effects a lot of the organs and direct | | | | attack symptoms is perhaps the wrong phrase to use |
| action of this hormone on nerve cells gives rise to | | | | more like natural bodily reaction to fear would be |
| many of the symptoms of anxiety. It effects the blood | | | | better. |