Panic Attack Symptom
Panic attacks, also known as anxiety attacks, can have many different symptoms. Being able to tell the difference between a panic attack and several other medical conditions that produce similar effects is not always easy. So how can you be sure if something is a genuine panic attack symptom or not?
Firstly it is normal to experience anxiety at times. It is only when the experience is out of proportion to the situation at hand that there may be a problem. If you find that feelings of anxiety are stopping you from performing everyday activities and affecting your daily routine then it is likely that you have an anxiety disorder and should see your doctor.
Even though the symptoms associated with a panic attack are often different for each person there are some that are commonly experienced by most sufferers. A racing heartbeat and chest pains are common as are a shortness of breath and dizziness. Many people report that they feel like they are going to die and that they have trouble concentrating and focusing on anything specific. You may also sweat excessively and feel fatigued.
As you can see these symptoms may all be associated with other physical illnesses so it is important to see your doctor so that other conditions can be ruled out. Once you have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder you can focus on getting better as this is a condition that responds quite quickly to treatment.
The important thing is that you seek help if you believe that you have experienced a panic attack symptom. Left untreated, anxiety usually gets worse over time. There is nothing to be ashamed about if you have experienced an anxiety attack and you doctor can suggest a treatment that will help you overcome them.
Symptoms Of Panic Attack
If you think that you may have had a panic attack it is important that you see your doctor as many of the effects associated with them can be very similar to several physical conditions and it is important to rule them out first. However it can be beneficial to understand the symptoms of panic attack disorder in order to be better prepared to deal with any subsequent ones.
Clinically, a panic attack is defined as a period of intense discomfort or fear that is also associated with at least four of the following symptoms. Common symptoms or sensations include nausea, sweating, chest pain, dizziness, shaking or trembling, chills, hot flushes, numbness or tingling in your arms and legs, as well as a shortness of breath. Of course these are just the physical symptoms and there are emotional symptoms as well. An intense fear, usually not associated with something that most people would find scary is the predominant feeling.
Typically panic attacks will appear suddenly and reach peak intensity within a minute or two. They then tend to diminish slowly over the next half an hour or so. Women are more likely to suffer from panic attacks then men and the disorder usually manifests between the ages of twenty to thirty. There is no one definitive cause of panic attacks and no one clear solution either.
While there are several medications available in the treatment of panic attack, psychological therapy has also proven to be very effective. This includes learning relaxation and slow breathing techniques as well as cognitive and exposure therapy. With the appropriate treatment, most people can overcome their panic attacks and not have them reoccur.
Anxiety Attack Symptoms
There are several types of anxiety disorders and their affects can vary from person to person. The one thing that they all have in common however is a severe of persistent fear of a place or situation that would not be threatening to most people. Common anxiety attack symptoms can be both physical and emotional and are often experienced in combination.
Anxiety can produce a wide range of physical symptoms and it is important to understand that you may not experience all of them. It is common for sufferers to mistake their anxiety for a physical illness before they are diagnosed as the symptoms can be similar to many other conditions. When having an anxiety attack it is common to have tremors, headaches, fatigue, insomnia, shortness of breath and a pounding heart. Excessive sweating, as well as frequent urination or diarrhoea is also common.
During an anxiety attack, the primary emotional symptom is an irrational and excessive fear. It is also normal to experience irritability, restlessness or a general feeling of dread or apprehension without knowing why. You may feel jumpy or tense and even experience moments where you mind goes blank and you have trouble concentrating on anything in particular. Unfortunately, such a state will only increase your levels of anxiety and distress.
Your anxiety attack symptoms may be triggered by a particular situation or event, but sometimes there is no obvious trigger and they seem to appear out of nowhere. Most people find that their symptoms will reach a peak after about 10 minutes or so and will rarely last longer than 30 minutes. Anxiety or panic attacks can be quite debilitating and often leave the sufferer with a fear that they may experience another one, especially if they are alone or in a public space.
It is important that you do not ignore your symptoms and seek help as soon as possible. Your general practitioner should be the first person you contact. Anxiety attacks can be treated very effectively and there is no need to suffer with this condition alone.

