Recognizing the Symptoms of an Anxiety Attack
By Jon Mercer - www.easycalm.com
The symptoms of
an Anxiety Attack aren't always easy to recognize. The attacks themselves can
be confusing as well as producing an intense "undefined" fear, often
accompanied by severe discomfort and one or more physical symptoms. You can
easily find yourself asking, "Am I having an anxiety attack or not?"
To add to this
confusion, anxiety symptoms can appear very similar to symptoms of an actual
physical health problem, such as a heart attack or asthma. In fact, it is not
uncommon to feel absolutely "convinced" that you have a debilitating
illness or disease, when the actually problem is anxiety.
Some of the most
common symptoms of an anxiety attack include:
1. Rapid heart
beat
2. Shortness of breath
3. Dizziness/feeling light-headed
4. Fear of being "out of control"
5. Heart palpitations
6. Sudden sweating
7. Upset stomach
8. Tingling in the hands or feet
9. Feelings of being "out of touch" with the world around you
10. Shaking
11. A feeling of being "trapped"
On average, symptoms
of an anxiety attack rarely last longer than 20-30 minutes, and often begin
fading in 5 minutes or less. And even though they are not usually considered
to be physically harmful, over time the accumulative affects of these attacks
can severely decrease the sufferer's quality of life, and even weaken the immune
system.
Along with the
physical symptoms, anxiety attacks are most often accompanied by a feeling of
"doom" or hopelessness. Sufferers may also feel very self-conscious
and begin comparing themselves negatively with others. As a result of this,
some anxiety attack sufferers will develop low self-esteem and a poor self image.
Likewise, many sufferers attempt to hide the anxiety problem from friends and
loved-ones, or even feel ashamed of themselves because they sufferer with this
problem (blaming the victim).
Repeated anxiety
attacks can develop into a real health problem that needs to be treated. Seeing
a counselor can help the individual understand what is causing the anxiety.
A great many people also benefit by learning relaxation techniques-for example,
breathing exercises and bio-feedback are both beneficial in decreasing anxiety.
In more severe
cases, medical treatment may be advised as a temporary measure, though many
experts do not recommend "medicating the problem" as a long-term solution.
A more practical long-term solution may be a combination of relaxation techniques
and a change of lifestyle and learning to "work through" the anxiety.
An excellent first
step is for the sufferer to refuse to see themselves as a "victim"
of anxiety, instead taking full responsibility for their situation (again, without
blaming themselves). As an individual begins to understanding that they have
a great deal of power over the anxiety attacks and their response to them, anxiety
often loses much of its power over them.
Being honest about
your anxiety situation is also extremely helpful. "Coming out of the closet"
as an anxiety sufferer can be like taking a heavy load off your shoulders. Sufferers
get a great feeling of relief when they decide to be honest about their anxiety
issues, and friends and loved-ones are often more supportive about this problem
than you might think.
Odds are, there
are people around you who also have "hidden" anxiety problems, and
your honesty could inspire them to "come out" as well.
By Jon Mercer - www.easycalm.com
Author information
Jon Mercer, MA, is a personal development coach, author and entrepreneur who suffered for more than 20 years with serious anxiety and panic attack problems. Since recovering from his own anxiety and panic problems he has devoted his professional life to helping clients from all over the world overcome their anxiety and panic issues.
Jon provides a Videos Coaching series to assist people in overcoming anxiety or panic. You can find information about the video series at:
Coaching Videos to Relieve Anxiety & Panic - Information