Archive for March, 2009
Anxiety Or Panic Attack – Examining The Causes
Having a panic attack is a very frightening thing – leaving the sufferer scared, upset, and uncomfortable. Usually it happens all of a sudden, with no warning. The body just suddenly releases many hormones. It is as if the body is in the middle of fight or flight syndrome, with huge amounts of epinephrine released. (Epinephrine is also known as adrenaline, the key hormone in fight or flight syndrome.)
So what does a panic or anxiety attack feel like? It is marked by an intense feeling of fear – sometimes to the extent that the sufferer feels they are having a heart attack or are going crazy! They can last from just a very brief few seconds to half an hour or longer.
Regardless of how long the anxiety or panic attack lasts, more important is the cause. While any certain person’s cause of an anxiety or panic attack may be difficult to identify, there are causes that are typical. If you want to stop your anxiety attacks, looking at these potential causes might help you find relief.
It May Be In Your Genes
Some people have a predisposition to panic attacks in their genetic makeup. However, the opposite is also true – if there is no family history of anxiety or panic attacks, a person can still develop it.
The environment in which one grows up can also contribute to a tendency toward panic attacks. Studies have found that a person who is taught to be over cautious in the world or who has a very passive style of communication are more likely to have panic or anxiety attacks.
The Role Of The Body
Some conditions of the body can lead to having panic attacks. Hypoglycemia, hyperthyroidism, labyrinthitis, Vitamin B deficiency, post traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder are all things that can affect the body and also trigger a panic or anxiety attack.
There are also things that some people take into their body that can contribute to the likelihood of having an anxiety attack. These are caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. Other drugs, such as Ritalin, anti-depressants, marijuana, and all of the SSRI drugs can cause attacks, as well.
…And The Mind
For a person who has had a real loss, like the loss of a spouse or some other significant life change, they can be prone to an anxiety or panic attack.
If a person has a phobia, they can have a panic attack in reaction to exposure to the thing they are fearful of.
Once someone has had a panic or anxiety attack, they are more likely to have another panic attack in a similar situation. It is as if their body learns to put the two things together – that (for example) being in that situation means they are in danger or under stress and must have another anxiety attack.
Tags: anxiety panic attacks, stop anxiety attack
A Look At The Symptoms Of Anxiety Attacks
What is a panic or anxiety attack? If you’re asking the question, maybe you haven’t had one before. If you have, you probably know what they are – and how debilitating they can be.
After you’ve had one, you will probably worry constantly that you might have another one. You might even think of yourself as “living in fear” of being in fear (in an anxiety attack), which, in itself can trigger an attack.
So how can you recognize an anxiety attack? What are the symptoms? What should you watch for?
Recognizing An Anxiety Attack
Feeling helpless, out of control, out of breath, and very frightened? Worried you might be having a heart attack, or about to die? There’s a good chance you’re having an anxiety attack.
Particularly if you’ve been under a lot of stress – and which of us aren’t, these days? – you can be more prone to having an anxiety or panic attack, as symptoms of attacks are common for those who are very stressed.
Physical Symptoms Of Anxiety Attacks
Physically, your body reacts during an anxiety attack as if you are under extreme danger. Remember “fight or flight syndrome”? Where the blood runs away from the brain – Thinking, Central – of the body and toward the extremities, in preparation for running away or fighting to preserve your life. This is like that. The physical symptoms are identical. There can be lightheadedness, nausea, dizziness, and chills or hot flashes. Some people have chest pains, which can lead them to go to the hospital in fear for their life. Most have a racing heartbeat, or heart palpitations, or trouble breathing. Some have tingling in hands or feet, or a feeling of “pins and needles” in the extremities. Nervousness, trembling, and shaking can all be a part of the physical symptoms of an anxiety attack.
Mental Anxiety Attack Symptoms
Those who have anxiety attacks can be paralyzed by the fear, the absolute terror, that is characteristic of anxiety attacks. This symptom can leave one feeling like they are either crazy or going to die.
This used to present a real problem for sufferers of anxiety attacks. The panic of an anxiety attack used to be considered by doctors as being a mental issue, and they would tell patients that “it’s all in your head.” This was extremely detrimental to those who already were worried they were losing their mind! Now, both doctor and researchers know that anxiety attacks are a real medical condition, and there are ways to treat this disorder. Since it isn’t “all in the head”, doctors are much more able to treat the condition and not let the anxiety attack symptoms affect the sufferer’s entire life.
Tags: anxiety attack symptom, anxiety panic attack
