Dealing With Anxiety Attacks
Anxiety Attacks: Answers To Some Basic Questions
If you have suffered with an anxiety attack you will know exactly what it is and how it feels. You will have experienced the terror of a racing heart and the other stomach churning symptoms that leave you worried for your life. You may have been to the doctor and been told it is “all in your head” and then you’ve worried that it truly was all in your head and that you are losing your mind. For those that haven’t suffered with an anxiety attack, it’s difficult to workout what all the fuss is about. Well let’s take a closer look.
The Symptoms of an Anxiety Attack
First, there are both physical and mental symptoms of an anxiety attack. Either one can be crippling. They can last from only a few seconds to a half hour or longer. The average attack lasts thirty minutes. They can also vary in severity form mild to intense. The physical effects range from: Feeling dizzy, or faint, is also a common symptom to an anxiety attack. Click here for more on what causes Anxiety Attacks?
The mental symptoms can be just as hard to deal with. The feeling of losing the mind, losing control or dying is not uncommon. While it’s unlikely the anxiety attack will cause death it can still be terrifying.These feelings of panic, fear and dread can leave the victim in a state of shock.
What are the Causes?
Anxiety attacks can be caused by several things. Genes or family history may play a part. If you have relatives or ancestors who have suffered from anxiety attacks, you are more likely to have them also. However, those without this trait can also have them. A persons upbringing will have an influence of the risk to an attack. Studies show that those who are raised with a fearful outlook on life and their surroundings are more likely to have this disorder, as are those who have a very passive communication style. Click here to learn more about what causes Anxiety Attacks?
Other physical disoreders can also have an impact. Those that have obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, hyperthyroidism, hypoglycemia, a vitamin B deficiency, or even labyrinthitis can cause panic or anxiety attacks. Anxiety attacks can also be caused by chemicals introduced into the body. These include drugs like anti-depressants but also more commonly alcohol, nicotine and caffeine.
Lastly, mental issues can also trigger anxiety attacks. Things like phobias, previous panic attacks, or a significant loss or life change (like the death of a spouse) can cause an attack to occur.
If you would like more information please visit our Anxiety Disorder homepage.
