Interesting study on anxiety.

[Anxious_gal]

http://dionysus.psych.wisc.edu/Lit/Articles/ReissS1986a.pdf


"One interesting theoretical explanation for the finding of a special relationship between anxiety
sensitivity and fearfulness is that anxiety sensitivity may be a predisposing factor in the
development of fears and other anxiety disorders. According to this view, people who believe that
anxiety has few or no negative effects may be able to cope with a relatively high level of exposure
to anxiety-provoking stimuli. In contrast, people who believe that anxiety has terrible effects, such
as heart attacks and mental illnesses, may tend to have anxiety reactions that grow in anticipation
of severe consequences. Anxiety sensitivity implies a tendency to show exaggerated and prolonged
reactions to anxiety-provoking stimuli."

[eeyorelover]

Still reading but this would explain why loads of people with anxiety, including myself, often say that an attack came out of nowhere! That the attack itself wasn't brought about by any particularly stressful event. The fear of anxiety itself lurking around in one's head could be enough to cause the attack without outside stimuli.