Past Traumatic Experience: The comment she made a few years ago about you being a failure may have had a profound impact on you, even if it seemed insignificant at the time. Such experiences can leave deep emotional scars and create associations with certain people or situations, making it difficult to interact with them without feeling anxious or fearful.
Unresolved Emotional Issues: If the comment your mother made has never been fully addressed or resolved, it's possible that the emotional impact of that event is still affecting you. Unresolved emotional issues can manifest in anxiety or panic attacks when you're reminded of the source of the distress.
Family Dynamics: Family relationships can be complex and can significantly influence our emotional well-being. Patterns of communication and dynamics within the family can contribute to feelings of stress or anxiety.
Emotional Sensitivity: Some individuals are naturally more emotionally sensitive, making them more prone to experiencing intense emotions, including anxiety, in response to certain triggers or interactions.
Learned Behaviors: Over time, certain patterns of behavior and emotional responses can become learned and conditioned. If you have had numerous negative or anxiety-inducing interactions with your mother in the past, your mind and body may have learned to respond with panic even in neutral situations.
Generalized Anxiety: It's possible that your anxiety is not specific to interactions with your mother but is instead a more generalized issue. In such cases, stress and anxiety may manifest during any challenging or emotionally charged situation, including interactions with family members.
It's essential to recognize that these are just potential explanations, and each person's experience is unique. If you're struggling with panic attacks or anxiety related to your interactions with your mother, it may be beneficial to seek support from a mental health professional, such as a therapist or counselor. They can help you explore your emotions, experiences, and reactions in a safe and non-judgmental space and provide strategies to cope with and overcome these challenges. Therapy can offer valuable insights and tools to improve your emotional well-being and the quality of your relationships.