Do Panic Attacks Always Mean Ptsd?

[LizBeth1]

Hi all,

I have CPTSD but have never had the symptom of panic attacks. However, my boyfriend, who sometimes sees my therapist along with me, does have panic attacks on a fairly regular basis. He doesn't express emotions well and then he'll have a panic attack down the line. He was raised with a manipulative mom who did a lot of gaslighting. This isn't a ton of info really, but I have always wondered if he may have a little PTSD. Do you feel like panic attacks often/always indicate some level of past trauma, or do you feel like a person without PTSD can easily have them too?

Thanks...
LB

 

[safenow]

No! Many people who do not have PTSD have panic attacks. It is a part of anxiety.

 

[LizBeth1]

Ok, thanks for the clarification :)

 

[Abstract]

Hi!

They absolutely don't have to be PTSD or trauma related at all. Essentially what they are very simply is adrenaline poisoning. The symptoms are just as a result of too much adrenaline being produced so someone who worries a lot can have them too. Thoughts create chemical affects in the body. Some peoples biology makes them more predisposed to be anxious too.

But if he doesn't have PTSD but has had trauma in his past then that certainly won't help him and he does need to deal with it.

I don't know if you are familiar with the concept of big T trauma and little t trauma. I think little t trauma can contribute a lot to things like panic attacks.

 

[LizBeth1]

Thank you Abstract. This makes sense, as he lived with his emotionally abusive and neglectful mom for 40 years before leaving home. Now that he is living on his own finally, if there a very tight deadline at his job, or if there is a heavy discussion about a crux point in our relationship, he has panic attacks.

 

[Abstract]

Oh LizBeth, I think neglect and emotional abuse can have a huge impact on the way we see ourselves and the world. He sounds like he is in a lot of pain so I am glad he is getting help.


Emotional abuse and neglect interfere with us learning how to be able to moderate our emotions and soothe ourselves amongst many things.

 

[surviving_it_all]

I hope I just have panic attacks and not ptsd.

 

[Ayasha]

as he lived with his emotionally abusive and neglectful mom for 40 years before leaving home.

You know, I think this is a big indicator of why he is having panic attacks. Moving away from an abuser, doing something they would not be happy with, and accepting who you are is a very scary thing and I think that is causing the panic attacks. I am not a therapist so I can't
make a diagnosis but it does not sound like he is experiencing symptoms of PTSD.

I hope I just have panic attacks and not ptsd.

As mentioned above, I am not a therapist and I can't make a diagnosis but I do know that panic attacks do not mean post-traumatic stress disorder.