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Identifying Common Anxiety Attack Symptoms

August 30th, 2010 | Author: Barry Joe McDonagh

When you’re experiencing anxiety and panic attacks on a regular basis, one of the most important things you can do is practice self-awareness. Being aware of the sensations and feelings you are experiencing can make anxiety and panic attacks that much more manageable, and you’ll be able to find ways to cope with the distressing feelings and experience once you acknowledge them.

The physical and mental manifestations of anxiety can take their toll on your body and mind, and can be very unsettling when they appear out of the blue. Some of the sensations can be addressed with medication, but there are healthy, drug-free approaches that can help you get better and enjoy a better quality of life. I talk more about healthy ways to handle anxiety attacks in my book, Panic Away.

For now, let’s take a look at some of the common anxiety attack symptoms.

Among the most prevalent symptoms and signs of an oncoming anxiety attack is a shortness of breath, or a tight sensation in the chest area. Other symptoms and signs of an anxiety attack include heart palpitations, sweating, feelings of choking, and feelings of unreality or being detached from yourself.

Many people also feel numbness or a tingling sensation in their extremities. Others have an intense fear of losing control or going crazy. Feeling dizzy, lightheaded or faint are also common side effects of an oncoming anxiety or panic attack.

Whatever the case may be, you can work on desensitizing yourself from these uncomfortable experiences, and eventually stop worrying about them altogether.

One of the best ways to deal with the feelings of being out of control, or managing those nerves when under stress or pressure, is acceptance. Acceptance immediately lowers your anxiety and places you back in your natural flow.  What we accept goes through a transformation and in this case the anxious bodily sensations are not allowed to escalate into a full blown panic attack.

You don’t have to fear anxiety attack symptoms and those uncomfortable sensations forever. There are several ways to overcome frequent anxiety and panic attacks, and look forward to a healthier life ahead.

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How To Tell If You Have Anxiety Attack Symptoms

Anxiety attacks and panic disorders affect an estimated 2.4 million Americans according to WebMD.com, and women are more likely to experience them than men. An anxiety attack can be described as an elevated sense of unease and a sudden acute episode of feeling overwhelmed and panicky. Anxiety attacks can occur on a regular basis, or randomly in people of all ages. Here are some ways to recognize anxiety symptoms:

1. Difficulty speaking and concentrating. The person experiencing an anxiety attack or extreme anxiety typically has difficulty getting focused and speaking properly. They may stumble upon their words, stutter, and feel like they can’t get their thoughts under control.

2. Chest pains or tightness. Someone who has a tendency of having anxiety attacks usually stops breathing properly. This can cause severe chest pains or tightness, difficulty swallowing, and from limited oxygen intake.

3. Excessive energy. People who are “always on the go” may not realize they are experiencing anxiety symptoms. They may feel like they can’t relax or will experience long periods of restlessness or agitation. This is a common anxiety symptom that many people overlook.

4. Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet. Most people who are about to have a full-blown anxiety attack will start to breathe in a shallow manner, limiting their oxygen intake. This can cause numbness in the hands and feet, especially if they are sitting in a constricted position.

5. Heart palpitations or a racing heart. People who are about to have an anxiety attack often feel like their “heart is about to beat out of their chest.” Increased heart rate and elevated blood pressure are common anxiety symptoms.

6. Extreme cravings for sugar and sweets. For those who experience anxiety symptoms on a regular basis, eating high-fat, high-carbohydrate foods serves the purpose of calming them down. This can become a problem if too much food is eaten at one sitting, and can end up making the person feel worse. Food can only numb anxiety symptoms temporarily; as soon as the “high” wears off, the anxiety attack or anxiety problems will return, and may get worse.

7. Extreme fatigue. Constant stress on the mind and body from an anxiety attack or anxiety problems can leave the person feeling worn out and extremely fatigued. Anxiety triggers several chemical reactions in the body that directly affect the central nervous system. This can leave the person feeling drained of energy, and unable to get enough rest to recover.

Anxiety symptoms vary from person to person, and may be more pronounced in some people than in others. The intensity and effects of an anxiety attack can occur based on the person’s chemical makeup, frequency of other attacks, and other factors. Recognizing these symptoms as they happen can help to understand what is triggering an anxiety attack or general feelings of anxiety, and what needs to be done to correct the problem.

Even though anxiety can cause many physical, emotional and social problems, most anxiety problems can be corrected with lifestyle changes, dietary supplements or medical intervention.

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