They include but are not limited to: low blood sugar levels, certain heart conditions, excessive intake of caffeine, drug use, tumors (some tumors cause excess adrenaline which can lead to anxiety attacks), or an overactive thyroid gland. These conditions and others can lead to anxiety attacks and may be at the root of your problem. The shortness of breath can seem like your world is caving in, but by being able to recognize the symptom as part of an anxiety attack, you can more easily control this. Lightheaded or Faint Becoming lightheaded is one anxiety attack symptom that happens a lot in crowded areas. Many people have a phobia about being in crowds and becoming lightheaded or fainting is a common symptom that they experience. Drinking during a panic attack will not help calm a person down, nor will it help relax them and prevent an attack. Most doctors will agree that alcohol and panic attack experiences do not mix. In fact one of the things a doctor will suggest to any newly diagnosed panic sufferer will be that they cut down on their alcohol consumption. So, it stands to reason that if your body is trained to react poorly through a number of factors the likelihood that you will experience a panic attack is significantly greater than a healthier person. For example, the likelihood of a generally out of shape individual with poor time management skills and poor stress management skills of experiencing a panic attack in a stressful situation is significantly higher than that of a well adjusted person that is confident with their time and stress management skills. Who Not to Trust Do not trust those organizations offering information on panic attacks that have little to no actual credentials. If they claim to be doctors, check them out with a medical organization. If they are a business out for profit, do not trust their information unless it checks out with other reputable sources. When someone has more than one panic attack, they can develop a phobia towards the situation, or a fear to return to a specific place. Add in an already depressed view of the world, a worry that others find no worth in you, and you have a recipe for one miserable person. Health care professionals are learning that the instances of panic attack and depression coinciding together are more common that thought.