Here is a quick exploration of panic attacks as I currently understand them.  I first read about panic attacks in the book Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome.  In that book Dr. Wilson describes panic attacks as being a common first sign of what he coined “adrenal fatigue.”  Since that time much has been learned about the factors contributing to the stress hormone imbalances he described as adrenal fatigue.  In looking deeper now it looks like panic attacks may be related to more specific triggers and imbalances that though still related to the larger “HPA Axis Dysregulation” we focus on as FDNs, is more specific than the general “Adrenal Fatigue” or “Adrenal insufficiency”.  The Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis is the key stress, hormone, and energy regulation system of the body and has numerous biological inter-dependencies the body.

One of my favorite sites Diagnose-me.com lists the following potential triggers for panic attacks and potential solutions:  (1) adrenal/cortisol dysregulation (2) hormone imbalances such as low estrogens, low progesterone to estrogen ratios (2) low thyroid (often a byproduct of adrenal insufficiency), (3) high sugar diets,  and (4)  toxicity signs such as heavy metal exposure, smoking, and electrical hypersensitivity, and other internal stressors such as lyme disease.   Although they don’t specifically mention adrenal supports (i.e. adaptogens), many of the suggestions are in line with the general recommendations to decrease adrenal and hormone stressors and support the bodies internal stress response.

The best method to confirm and correct these imbalances is to take adrenal/hormone stress test such as the BioHealth 205 Adrenal/Hormone saliva test or the DUTCH (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones) urine test.  Both of which would give you a great picture of body’s cortisol stress response and sex hormone imbalances as well as hints for tracking down next step root cause investigations.  A thyroid test could be an option although as FDNs we find that thyroid is often a secondary issue to adrenal/hormone balance issues.

Depending on what the test indicates we would support your low cortisol or sex hormone levels in a natural way and look for root causes for high cortisol elevating stressors or sex hormone balance disrupters (i.e. liver toxins).  The general supports Diagnose-me recommends are definitely worth starting as well.