Anxiety Attacks

Have you ever watched how a mother reacts if she feels there is a threat to her child? Immediately, her whole body tenses up and goes into high gear as adrenaline is released to help her either to flee the threat or to fight it off. But sometimes, there is no real threat. Since your body doesn’t have the opportunity to respond, it remains on high alert, waiting to deal with an anticipated danger that never comes. This results in anxiety attacks that affect you both physically and mentally.

When something happens to make you feel fearful, your body begins to respond by exhibiting a number of anxious reactions. Even though there is no real danger, the reactions themselves cause you to feel more fearful, which causes more symptoms. Before you know it, a cycle of anxiety is created and anxiety attacks become more common.

People who suffer from anxiety attacks never know when they will experience one. You may be standing in a line at the bank or driving your car, when without warning, symptoms of anxiety start happening. Often, if you experience a panic attack, you feel breathless and begin to shake as your heart starts to race. You may become dizzy and unable to see clearly. Stomach problems and ‘pins and needles’ sensations in your arms and legs intensify the discomfort. Add to that chest pain and difficulty swallowing, and you feel as though you are going to die. The panic at this point becomes very intense, bringing with it depression and hopelessness. Once the anxiety attack subsides, the symptoms lessen or disappear – until the next time.

Many of the symptoms of an anxiety disorder can also be caused by a serious medical condition or be the result of an improper diet or side effect of a drug. So it’s vital to see a doctor as soon as possible. For instance, the chest pain could indicate a heart problem, or the shaking and dizziness could be caused by diabetes. Once the doctor has ruled out other possibilities, he may suggest medication or cognitive-behavioral therapy. Through therapy, your mind can be retrained to react to anxiety in a more appropriate way. Gradually, the anxiety level is lowered and symptoms are no longer felt.

Anxiety attacks can be a fearful experience for anyone. But with proper therapy and possibly medication, most people can live a normal life, free of the painful symptoms of anxiety.