A life changing event is one major cause of disorder or panic in a person. It may also be caused by different events. In some cases, the fear is totally unfounded. These events may be death, depression or a serious medical illness. There is no doubt that anxiety causes emotional distress. It’s worse for people having chronic anxiety disorder.

There is a big difference between regular anxiety and anxiety disorders. While we experience the former from time to time, the latter is more serious in its severity. The first step in treating anxiety disorder is to take a self-inventory. What could be the root cause of this problem? Could it be childhood trauma? The sufferer may read books on the subject or join a self help group.

Depression mentioned above can be triggered by many events or environmental factors or by nothing at all. In some cases, heredity or changes in the physical body can be the greatest cause of depression.

Many neuroscientists have suggested that depression is actually caused by the physical brain, meaning chemical and electrical reactions somehow give rise to thoughts and emotions. Evidence shown on this is the study which reported that altering brain chemistry with anti-depressant drugs (chemicals) can make depressed people feel better. However MRI scans show the opposite in that changes in thinking cause significant and measurable changes in brain chemistry and functioning.

Depression always has a cause. When people seem not to know why they are depressed, a school of thought says that any depression that appears to be “chemical” is more likely to be caused by a thought that simply is not remembered - a thought about a problem we do not believe we can solve. Furthermore, what appears to be a “chemical” depression is caused by a thought that is not directly or consciously recognized.

Anxiety attacks are caused by many physical, mental and emotional triggers. Genetics also play a part. Females are more apt to get them than the males. Allergies or sensitivities to food, drinks or chemicals can trigger attacks as much as memories or trauma. Alcohol and drugs can also cause panic attacks and disorders. Serious, upsetting experiences can also cause panic attacks.

Stress, of course, is the number one contributor to panic attacks. Say for example you are stressed because of your schedule like taking the kids to soccer, violin practice, making dinner and seeing everyone in bed by nine. So figure out a solution, whatever it takes. Taking charge of your mental state is the best way to stop panic attacks.

There is help for panic attack sufferers. It may come in the form of medication, therapy, meditation, hypnosis or some other form. These solutions are valid; just take time to research and implement them.

As women approach midlife and menopause one of the things to be on the lookout for is depression. While menopause is not thought to be a cause of depression the two can occur at the same time. What is believed to be a cause of depression is changes in estrogen levels which occur during menopause. It is known that women are affected by depression over twice as much as men and that a family history of depression can factor into this as well. The symptoms of depression and menopause are very similar and include sleep disorders, hot flashes, fatigue, anxiety, and irritability. Many women associate these symptoms with the changes that menopause brings, but they may be a sign of depression that needs to be understood and dealt with. There is no reason women need to suffer from depression during menopause. It is important that they accept the physical changes happening to their bodies during this time and work with their doctor to mitigate the symptoms of menopause, but it is also important that they realize that depression and menopause can be mutually exclusive and both can be dealt with. As women approach menopause their menstrual cycles begin to change and start to become unpredictable. This unpredictability of their monthly cycle is a sign of erratic ovulation. Erratic ovulation causes unpredictable releases of the hormones estrogen and progesterone leading to mood swings, forgetfulness, hot flashes and all the other symptoms associated with menopause. Most women going through menopause feel that they are loosing control of their bodies when in fact it is just their natural reaction to the aging process. This feeling of loss of control can lead to symptoms of depression. As the symptoms of both menopause and depression worsen they start to feel that there is nothing they can do and a feeling of hopelessness falls over them. This feeling of hopelessness is a major part of depression and left untreated can lead to severe depression. Untreated depression is a major health risk. Researchers have found that depression is linked to an increased risk of heart disease and in some cases it can lead to bone deterioration increasing the likely hood of osteoporosis and broken bones. The treatment for depression and menopause can follow a two pronged approach. It is important to treat not only the depression with antidepressant medications and counseling but also to treat the symptoms of menopause as well. Menopause can be treated with hormone replacement therapy where synthetic forms of estrogen and progesterone are used to even out the woman’s hormone levels. If you are a woman approaching midlife and menopause be aware that depression can be a very real side affect of the changes that will happen to you. If start to see the symptoms of depression it is best to talk to your doctor about what treatment options may work best for you.