Are You Having a Anxiety Attack?

Imagine you are sitting at home, or at a desk at work when your chest tightens up causing severe pain, you have trouble catching your breath, and your palms start to sweat. Your mind immediately shifts to the worst. You think "could I be having a heart attack?" If you have experienced these symptoms and you weren't having a heart attack, you’re probably already aware of what an anxiety attack is.

Anxiety attacks are periods of extreme worry and panic that manifest themselves physically. They can come on slowly or be triggered by a specific event. Common symptoms include: shortness of breath, pain or tightness in the chest, shaking, dizziness, a pounding in the chest, nausea and vomiting, and hot or cold flashes. Many people who are experiencing a panic attack believe they are having a physical problem or are simply going crazy.

The bad part about anxiety attacks is that if you have had one; you may be likely to have others. People who experience regular anxiety attacks have what we call anxiety or panic disorders. They experience excessive amounts of anxiety at inappropriate times. If you have an anxiety attack due to fear of a specific object or situation, you probably have a phobia, or an irrational fear. Many people simply have anxiety attacks triggered by stress, excessive worrying, or that just occur randomly. These people probably have generalized anxiety disorder which is when you are overly worrisome. If you are having panic attacks, you should see a psychiatrist so you can be properly diagnosed.

The good news about anxiety disorders is that they are most often treatable. For immediate treatment of panic attacks, you need to relax. You may want to learn various breathing techniques or calming exercises. If these do not work, you may just have to ride out the attack.

To treat panic attacks in the long term, you should see a therapist. They can not only teach you ways to relax while you are experiencing an attack, they can also help provide treatment so you no longer have attacks. This usually involves specific therapy designed to help you cope with your anxiety and cope with your fears. They may also recommend making dietary and other lifestyle changes.

If therapy is not working to prevent your anxiety, you may benefit from prescription medications. Now, anxiety disorders are most often treated with a class of antidepressants, called SSRI's. The positives about these medicines are that they work very well if you suffer from a chronic anxiety disorder, and they can also relieve depression caused by constant worrying. When you start taking one of these medications, remember that it could take several weeks to notice the full effect. You may even notice an increase in symptoms shortly after taking the medications, so be sure you are monitored because this can increase the incidence of suicide. These medications can also have moderate to severe side effects.

The important thing you must remember if you’re experiencing panic attacks is that this is a common, treatable disorder and that you are not crazy. There is help for you; you just have to find it.

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