Panic Disorder Could Be in Your Mitochondria
Panic attacks are obliterating in the mental and spiritual sense. They take over the body and mind in a way that leaves no room for anything else. The feeling of overwhelm is systemic and profound, and it can feel like the very cells of the body are screaming for help—which might not be too far from what’s really going on. Why do some people seem more susceptible to panic disorders than others? Researchers are looking at the deepest depths of our cells for answers.
Mitochondria are tiny organisms that live symbiotically within our cells and burn energy for our bodies. And scientists are saying that changes to mitochondria resulting from chronic stress could be responsible for some cases of panic disorder. A better understanding of how changes in mitochondria affect us both physically and mentally could pave the way for more effective treatments for anxiety and other mental health disorders. Let's look closer.
What Are Mitochondria?
They’re in nearly every cell in the body, and without them, we wouldn’t have the energy we need to function. Mitochondria are bacteria-like organisms that researchers believe formed a symbiotic relationship with us way back when we first became multi-celled beings. They turn carbs and fats into energy, regulate calcium use and keep our systems running as efficiently as possible.
Nowhere are mitochondria more vital than in the brain, which uses up to 25% of the body’s total energy. When these tiny cells malfunction, the result can come in the form of any number of mental illnesses. In fact, people with genetic mitochondrial diseases are two to three times more likely to develop a psychiatric problem.
The Effects of Chronic Stress
But you don’t need to have a genetic disease for your mitochondria to malfunction. Chronic stress can literally change us at the cellular level. More specifically, it can alter the shape and functioning of our mitochondria.
Now, a new study has revealed that stress-related changes in the mitochondria can affect the way the brain processes energy. These changes appear to alter the way a person responds to triggers, increasing their susceptibility to anxiety. This means that the longer someone is stressed out, the higher their chances of undergoing mitochondrial changes that can prime them for panic disorder. But this knowledge may well lead us to incredible breakthrough treatments.
Potential New Avenues for Treatment
For many sufferers, the future of panic disorder treatment could be as easy as finding medications or supplements that improve mitochondrial function. Reducing the damaging effects of free radicals with the use of certain mitochondria-boosting antioxidants could be especially beneficial. And, of course, reducing stress can’t hurt.
But it's not hopeless for those of us in high-stress fields or lives. When you can’t avoid stress, you can still reduce the impact it has on your physical and mental health. Exercise is one proven way to improve the health and quantity of mitochondria. Other actions you can take include getting plenty of sleep, practicing relaxation techniques like mindfulness and meditation, eating less and choosing healthy, unprocessed foods. These may seem like things we hear all the time but that's because they work.
More research into improving mitochondrial function could lead to incredible new advances in anxiety treatment, but in the meantime, we're not helplessly adrift. The impacts of stress may be further reaching than previously thought, but the solutions are also clearer than ever. The mind-body connection is very real, the effects of stress every bit as physical as they can be emotional—and mitochondria may be the tie that binds the two.
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