Anxiety Attack Symptoms

Anxiety Attack Symptoms

Feeling anxious every now and then is a normal emotion. Like when you feel nervous when faced with a problem at work, before an interview, or before making an important decision. However, people with anxiety disorders are different. They have frequent intense, excessive and persistent fear about everyday situations.

People with anxiety disorders may often experience anxiety attacks or repeated episodes of sudden intense anxiety and fear that reach a peak within minutes. These anxiety attacks interfere with daily activities because they are difficult to control. They are out of proportion to the actual danger and can last a long time.

WHAT IS AN ANXIETY ATTACK?

Anxiety attacks are episodes of intense panic or fear that something bad is going to happen. It usually occurs suddenly without a warning. Most of the time there’s a trigger – being stuck in an elevator, or facing that job interview – but in many cases, the attacks just happen.

Most of the time anxiety attacks peak within 10 minutes, and they rarely last more than 30 minutes. During that time, you may experience the intense terror that you feel as if you’re about to die or totally lose control. Anxiety attacks have physical symptoms that are so frightening that many people think they are having a heart attack.

Anxiety attack is not a diagnosable condition and it is less severe than a panic attack. This condition gradually develops when a person feels anxious. The term “anxiety attack” is not listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5th Edition (DSM-V) of the American Psychological Association.

ANXIETY ATTACK SYMPTOMS

Physical symptoms:

  • Dry mouth
  • Pounding heart, increased heart rate or palpitations
  • Chest pain or discomfort
  • Shortness of breath
  • Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
  • Tightness in the throat or feeling like you’re choking
  • Sweating
  • Cold, numb or tingling hands or feet
  • Headache
  • Feeling faint or dizzy, light-headed
  • Chills or hot flashes
  • Nausea or upset stomach
  • Abdominal pain or gastrointestinal problems
  • Trembling or shaking
  • Feeling weak or tired, fatigue
  • Numbness or tingling (paresthesia)
  • Muscle tension
  • Frequent urination
  • Shaking or trembling

Emotional Symptoms:

  • Fear, panic, uneasiness
  • Feeling nervous or tense
  • Apprehension and worry
  • Distress
  • Restlessness
  • Having a sense of impending danger or doom
  • Not being able to stay calm and still
  • Difficulty concentrating or thinking
  • Irritability or explosive anger
  • Having the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety
  • Personality changes such as becoming less social
  • Having trouble sleeping, sleep problems
  • Sadness
  • Feeling pressured and hurried

Not every anxiety attack may experience all these symptoms. Anxiety attacks can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the trigger and how the person reacts to it. For example, faced with an interview, some people might feel apprehensive, while others may experience many of the symptoms above.

Usually, the thing feared or perceived danger passes, symptoms go away. The anxiety that is triggered by a specific event that continues for a long time may be a sign of social anxiety disorder.

ANXIETY ATTACKS CAN BE TRIGGERED BY:

  • Caffeine
  • Medications or supplements
  • Withdrawal from alcohol or drugs
  • Driving
  • Work stresses
  • Social stresses
  • Chronic conditions or chronic pain
  • Memories of past trauma
  • Various phobias
  • Exposure to a phobia trigger
  • Public speaking
  • Fear of having a panic attack

CAUSES OF ANXIETY ATTACK

Researchers don’t exactly know what causes anxiety attacks. Like other forms of mental illness, this condition arises from a combination of things, including changes in the brain and environmental stress, even your genes. Anxiety disorders can run in families. It could also be linked to faulty circuits in the brain that controls fear and other emotions.

Common causes of anxiety include:

  • Financial pressure
  • Work pressure
  • Divorce, separations, or bereavement
  • Family or relationships problems
  • Changing life situations, such as changing jobs or moving house
  • Concerns about parenthood
  • Being a caregiver
  • Problems with technology
  • Problems coping with administrative issues
  • Reduced mobility or physical function
  • Loss of mental function like short-term memory loss
  • Diagnosis of chronic illness such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and others

Other factors or health conditions including:

  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • Social phobia or other phobias
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Chemical changes in the brain
  • Genetic factors
  • Recent or past traumatic experience
  • Major stress or susceptibility to stress
  • Use of some medications
  • Drug or alcohol abuse
  • Excessive caffeine use

DIAGNOSIS

If you are experiencing symptoms tell your doctor, He will examine you and ask for your medical history. He will also run some tests to rule out medical illnesses that might be causing your condition. No laboratory test can specifically diagnose anxiety disorders.

MANAGING SYMPTOMS

Here are some tips that may help you lessen or control your symptoms:

  1. Cut down on drinks and foods that have caffeine like coffee, cola, tea, chocolates, and energy drinks. Caffeine is a mood-altering substance, and it may make your anxiety attack symptoms worse.
  2. Anxiety disorder and sleep problems often go together. Make sleeping a priority. Try to relax before bedtime. Avoid using laptops, or mobile phones in bed. Talk to your doctor if you are having trouble falling asleep.
  3. Eat a balanced diet. Include omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. It is good for the heart and it may ease anxiety. Tuna, salmon, flaxseeds, and walnuts are all great sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
  4. Get regular exercise. 15-30-minute exercise three times a week can have a lasting impact on your health and can help alleviate anxiety symptoms for hours.
  5. Ask your doctor before taking any over-the-counter meds or herbal supplements. Some of them may contain chemicals that can make anxiety symptoms worse.

WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR FOR ANXIETY ATTACK SYMPTOMS

While self-help coping strategies for anxiety attacks can be very effective, if your anxiety attacks have become so great that it’s disrupting your daily routine or causing so much distress, it’s important to seek a doctor for help.

Seek professional help if:

  • You feel like you’re worrying too much that it interferes with your work, relationship or other aspects of your life.
  • Your worry, fear or anxiety is difficult to control and get you upset.
  • You feel depressed, having alcohol or drug abuse, or you have other mental health concerns together with anxiety.
  • You think your anxiety is caused by a physical health problem.
  • You’re having suicidal thoughts – in this case, seek immediate medical treatment.

If you’re experiencing any physical anxiety attack symptoms, try to get a medical checkup. Your doctor will check if your anxiety is caused by any medical condition, such as hypoglycemia, asthma, or a thyroid problem. Your doctor will also check if any prescription meds, or over-the-counter medication, herbal supplements or recreational drugs are causing the symptoms.

If your doctor rules out the medical cause, you should consult a therapist who has experience in treating anxiety disorders. Your therapist will work with you to pinpoint the cause of your anxiety attacks and devise a course of treatment.