No, it can't. Nobody knows what causes it, though they think the answer might lie in a part of the primitive brain called the amygdyla. How to stop anxiety attacks doesn't have one answer. It depends on the individual. Some people have some trauma in their lives they have to deal with. Some have an underlying disease. What most do is try therapy with a psychologist who specializes in anxiety treatment after having a reliable and concerned doctor eliminate all possible physiological causes, such as thyroid or other hormonal problems, blood sugar imbalances, etc. CBT is currently thought to be the most effective form of therapy, though who knows? Some treat it with lifestyle changes and natural medicine. Some use medication to control the symptoms when the problem gets so bad you can't function very well anymore.