Anxiety Disorder Signs & Symptoms
There are only two types of anxiety disorder symptoms: physical and mental.
Everyone suffers from occasional anxiety, but some people actually develop anxiety disorders. In such a situation, patients may experience innumerable strange and bizarre symptoms, both on a physical and psychological level. In extreme cases, people with anxiety disorders can be prone to developing anxiety attacks, also known as panic attacks.
The sensation of having a full-blown panic attack can be terribly oppressive and overwhelming, and people usually think they are about to die when going through it. Anxiety attacks usually arrive unannounced, and they can either be a unique occurrence or repeat over time. Anxiety symptoms patients experience during the course of a panic attack are usually physical, with some notable exceptions.
Anxiety attacks usually last in average about 30 minutes, never more than one full hour. After you perceive its symptoms, it will usually take 10 minutes until anxiety reaches full intensity. If you learn to recognize its symptoms and practice relaxation techniques at the onset of such a moment, you can succeed averting anxiety attacks.
Typical symptoms of a panic attack:
Chest pains or discomforts in the upper torso
Choking or suffocating sensations
Dizziness, lightheadedness, or even fainting
Hot flashes or cold flashes
Intense fear of dying, losing control, or going crazy
Intense feelings of alienation, detachment or unreality
Nausea, vomiting or an upset stomach
Numbness or tingling across the body
Racing heart, heart palpitations
Shaking or trembling
Shortness of breath or hyperventilation
Sweating profusely for no reason
Even healthy people can experience anxiety attacks for no apparent reason, but they are usually recurrent in patients suffering from anxiety disorders. In some cases, a panic attack disorder can surface, where a person gets so scared of having anxiety attacks that constant worrying will actually trigger those attacks on a recurrent basis.
Simple tricks to avoid anxiety attacks
If you have problems with anxiety attacks, you should learn as much as you can about your condition. There are simple and effective tricks that you can follow immediately, such as avoiding caffeine and nicotine. You can also make other adjustments in your diet and lifestyle that will naturally help control your anxiousness. Most importantly, you should integrate relaxation therapies as a substantial part of your life.
You should learn breathing exercises, and more importantly you should make sure to practice them. Proper breathing is something that most people overlook, but it can play a very important role in helping reduce anxiousness and promoting well-being.
If you start paying attention to your breathing, you’ll notice that it always gets irregular when you’re about to have an anxiety attack. Learn to control your breathing and practice deep breathing, since that will be one of your most powerful tools in dealing with your anxiety problems and overcoming its symptoms.
