If you believe panic attacks are overrated, you haven’t searched Google lately on the subject. “Panic attacks” received roughly 15,600,000 search hits and “anxiety attacks” Another 1,790,000. That proves that not only is there a great deal of interest in the subject but more importantly, a great many victims of the syndrome. I employ the word syndrome because its cause is mostly psychological as well as relatively “harmless” to the sufferer.
Its distinct cause is fear, plain and simple. This being said, however, it would be negligent to conclude that the symptoms are entirely psychosomatic because any number of panic attacks can be attributed to, enhanced by, or directly caused by the mental reaction to any number of drugs – marijuana included. One licensed practitioner (whose opinion has been affirmed by countless others) stated,
“Substance abuse and the withdrawal of the substance being abused can mimic panic attacks. Alcohol, marijuana, opiates, hallucinogens, cocaine, over-the-counter drugs (nasal sprays and diet tablets), caffeine and benzodiazepines can all be associated with panic attacks.”