SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY AND PANIC ATTACKS

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Symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks are not just a figment of someone’s imagination. They are real and have debilitating effects to those who suffer from them.

The attack itself is the main symptom. The clinical term for these attacks is Panic Anxiety Disorder. It is a medical condition which has attacks which are sudden and severe.

Although these symptoms are indicative of the disorder, we must mention that the symptoms could indicate other issues such as a medical ailment that has the same symptoms. It can also be triggered by some life threatening situation that happens shortly before the attack.

The symptoms include:

racing heart beat – caused by increased adrenalin pumped into the body

shortness of breath – your chest does not feel as though it will expand to take in enough air

shaking – is a normal reaction to fear

feeling of dread – another reaction to fear as in something bad happening soon

nausea, lightheadedness or dizziness - blood flow is redirected from the gastrointestinal system and increased adrenalin can cause distorted vision

sweating – the body is in a fight or flight state and perspiration is increased

choking – the muscles in the throat constrict due to the anxiety and give a feeling of choking or lack of ability to swallow

chest pains – muscle tension is caused by the anxiety and feels like the patient is suffering a heart attack

fear or anxiousness – caused by adrenalin released in the blood stream

hot flashes or chills – hot flashes are caused by the action of muscles tensing and releasing from the anxiety while chills are caused by the body cooling off the muscles through perspiration

tingling in fingers or toes – the nervous system is confused from the activity occurring in the body and is sending false signals to all parts of the body

fear of impending insanity – because of the changes in levels of chemistry in the body due to the anxiety, the brain is confused and unsure of what is happening in the body

fear of impending death – the feelings of the anxiety are so intense and the physical manifestations of the disorder make the patient feel as though they are going to die

agoraphobia – this is a normal response to feelings of anxiety in that we want to retreat to a safe area away from something that is causing us fear

Symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks can reach climax within a few minutes. There is a slow decrease of symptoms over a period of a half hour to several hours. An initial episode will usually result in a trip to the doctor or the emergency room. Subsequent attacks are usually as intense.

Although anxiety and panic attacks can reach anyone, the usual age group when attacks start is from age 20-30 years old. Women have more frequent attacks. There is no major evidence that symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks have any direct correlation with emotional trauma.

Talk with your healthcare professional if you think you may have symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks. They can diagnose you and establish a treatment that will help get your symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks under control.

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