Online StoreWhat are Panic Attack Symptoms?
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Wow, that’s a large number and 18% of all Americans.
If you have anxiety attacks, this should help a little, because you know that you are not alone, and that anxiety is a real disease, not just something in your head.
There are actually 5 types of anxiety disorders, and the symptoms with all of them are all about irrational fear, ie, fear, where there is actually nothing to really be afraid of:
* panic disorder,
* obsessive-compulsive disorder-OCD,
* post-traumatic stress disorder - PTSD,
* social anxiety disorder,
* specific phobias, and
* GAD or generalized anxiety disorder
We will focus on what the doctors call panic disorder, which the rest of us call anxiety or panic attacks.
Panic disorders affect 6 million Americans. While panic disorder strikes all ages and genders, the highest risk is for women between childhood and middle age. Once the problem starts, most people suffer from panic attacks for an extended period, from 6 months to several years.
Panic attacks are sudden attacks of terror that usually produce a sense of unreality, a fear of impending doom, or a fear of losing control. Panic attacks can occur at any time, even when sleeping. They usually peak in about 10 minutes, but some symptoms can last several hours.
Physical symptoms can include the following:
* a pounding heart
* sweatiness
* weakness
* faintness
* feeling dizzy
* being chilled or flush
* tingling or numbing feelings
* nausea
* feeling chest pains
* feeling smothered.
Fear of ones own unexplained physical symptoms is also common with anxiety attacks. People having anxiety attacks sometimes believe they are having heart attacks or losing their minds. Since they cant predict where an attack will occur, many worry intensely and dread the next attack.
Panic attacks often are accompanied by other problems, such as depression. Symptoms of depression include feelings of sadness or hopelessness, alcoholism and drug abuse, changes in appetite or sleep patterns, low energy, and difficulty concentrating.
People who experience several repeated panic attacks start to avoid places or situations where panic attacks have occurred.
For example, if an anxiety attack happened in a social situation, someone with panic disorder can develop a strong aversion to social situations.
Some peoples lives become so restricted that they avoid normal activities, such as driving or grocery shopping. About one-third become housebound, and are only able to confront what they fear when with someone else. This extreme condition is called agoraphobia, or fear of open spaces.
Early treatment can prevent agoraphobia, but people with panic disorder may sometimes go from doctor to doctor for years before someone correctly diagnoses their condition.
I had a similar experience with anxiety attacks:
My panic attacks started when I was 21. I was intensely scared, and my physical symptoms included feeling dizzy and also feeling like I was being smothered.
My doctor started me on tranquilizers, but I found these didn’t really stop the attacks, they only made me feel temporarily better. Because of the huge expense and the very nasty side effects I eventually stopped them.
I then tried exercise and deep breathing, but these didn’t stop my anxiety attacks.
I then gave up flying and driving and most social encounters for 3 years.
I finally found a way to stop panic attacks, and I try to help others so they don’t have to suffer like I did.
