Having an asthma attack is usually regarded as a physical problem. Sufferers often describe symptoms such as tightness in the chest, coughing, and difficulty in breathing. Yet asthma also has an psychological component. The sufferer often experiences frustration with and the fear of what could happen if the attack worsens.

Asthma, at its worst, can be life threatening. This can cause anxiety, which leads to episodes of panic, which, in turn, can make an asthma attack worse. Anxiety, resentment and despair are common emotions felt by asthma sufferers.

For years, many people assumed asthma was brought on by stressful situations or emotional problems. This led to a stigma being attached to the condition and there grew a stereotype of the asthmatic being a weak, fearful person, forever wheezing and coughing.

Breathing is obviously tied in with emotion. We gasp with fear when viewing a scary movie, and take short breaths if we get involved in an action flick. We catch our breath if something startles us. Laughing and crying are certainly the expression of emotion and they both involve a changes to our normal breathing pattern.

Being under stress can gradually tighten the airways. Frequently people suffer their first bought with asthma at a time of heightened emotion, like the death of a close relative. In these cases, the person was probably already susceptible to asthma and the traumatic event and stress brought on the attack.

A person’s beliefs can also have an impact on their asthma. Studies have shown that sufferers of asthma can produce and decrease asthma attacks using the power of suggestion. Just as Pavlov’s dogs salivated to when the bell sounded, asthma patients can suffer attacks if they are convinced they have inhaled an allergen even if the allergen is not present. Results also showed that they can experience a decrease in symptoms if they believe they are taking a reliever drug though what they had taken provided no medical effects.

This power of suggestion may explain why some people’s symptoms get worse if they just see an object that triggers their asthma. It can also be an explanation of why some claim they cannot go anywhere without their inhaler.

The cause of asthma is not in the mind. It is in the genetic makeup of that person. But it seems that the mind can make the condition better or worse.

Research has shown that asthma attacks can have a connection to panic disorder - recurrent unexplained panic attacks. This connection seems stronger in smokers than non-smokers, and in women than in men.

It has also been found that the children of mothers prone to depression or panic attacks have an increased risk of developing asthma.

Research may one day lead to drugs or behavioral interventions to control asthma. Meanwhile, it is known that certain relaxation techniques can help control asthma that is triggered by emotional events.

For more information on the emotional issues and treatment for panic symptoms, visit this site.