Anxiety Disorder Symptom - A Guide to Understanding Anxiety Disorder and Panic Attacks

By Abbie Collins


So you think you might have an anxiety disorder? But which one? How can you figure it out? Well, the easiest way is to go by your main symptoms. Let's see if we can sort them out.Panic Attacks.One of the key differences between anxiety disorders is the presence or absence of panic attacks. If you have panic attacks, then the most likely disorders that you may have are either post traumatic stress disorder or a phobia. Some clinicians also consider panic attacks themselves as a separate category.

What are panic attacks? Many people don't even realize when they are having a panic attack because they are so intensely physical. A panic attack is a strong physical and emotional episode in which the sufferer feels a series of symptoms. The most typical physical symptoms are chest pains, racing heart, difficulty breathing, nausea and hot/cold flashes. Often the sufferer will believe they are having a heart attack and rush to the hospital only to find that there is nothing physically wrong with them.

If you are wondering what causes an anxiety disorder, there is no definitive answer. It has been suggested that a chemical imbalance within the brain may be responsible, however this has not been proven conclusively. Another possible cause is that it is a learned behaviour, while another is that they are caused by unresolved issues from a person's past. Whatever the cause, most sufferers are more concerned with overcoming the condition and learning strategies to help them cope with the symptoms they experience.

Sweating, Palpitation and accelerated or pounding heart rate.Shortness of breath, tension, trembling/shaking, or sensation of choking.Abdominal distress, nausea, feeling dizzy, unsteady, being lightheaded or close the point of fainting.Surge of overwhelming fear and panic, dread, helplessness, of losing control, of dying or of going crazy.

Treating anxiety can take time. For mild cases, psychotherapy may be enough while more sever cases may require medication as well. It has been observed that most people respond better to a combined treatment of both psychotherapy and drugs, however this varies on a case by case basis and will be determined over a period of time. A popular anxiety therapy is cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) which helps a person recognise the role their thoughts play in their anxiety and helps them to challenge their unrealistic thinking to overcome their fears.Other anxiety disorder treatments include self-help strategies such as meditation, biofeedback, visualizations as well as getting enough exercise and dietary adjustments. Many people will choose not to seek professional help especially at the beginning of their symptoms. It should be remembered that there is no shame in seeking help when you need it. If you are suffering from your symptoms, seek help as soon as possible.

For people that experience anxiety and panic attacks on a regular basis, it's not uncommon for these issues to go untreated for various reasons. Panic attack and anxiety sufferers may be so embarrassed, paranoid, and fearful that others may think they are "crazy" that they just do everything in their power to avoid situations that cause them to become anxious. Over time, many of these people start to lose hope that they will ever stop feeling anxious, and they may lock themselves away from the life and others that they once enjoyed, a mental disorder that's referred to as agoraphobia. When this happens, there can be some serious long-term consequences that the anxiety sufferer will end up with.

Psychological Concerns.Many of the results of untreated anxiety and panic attacks cannot only be devastating psychologically; they can be life threatening as well. A person who continually experiences the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as heart palpitations, stomach and digestive ailments or insomnia, can become physically ill as a result. The anxiety sufferer may become homebound out of fear of having a panic attack in front of peers at a job or in public. The person may decide to avoid the things that cause anxiety, such as driving or performing routine life activities like grocery shopping or spending time with friends and family. Worse yet, the anxiety sufferer may stop getting regular medical care for existing health issues they may have out of fear of being labeled as unstable.

Physical Concerns.In addition, anxiety can cause other health problems to become worrisome or increase in occurrence. In fact, the health problems may be at the root of their worrisome tendency - it's a vicious cycle that has no end. For example, a person who is anxious about their stomach pains may go on to develop ulcers, which are life threatening. The more they worry about dying from their stomach pain, the worse their physical condition becomes. Or the person may become so depressed from not wanting to leave the house may be so worried that they develop social phobias and then even suicidal tendencies.

Unfortunately, these attacks are not discriminative, since they come on suddenly during the day or at night when the person is trying to sleep. These attacks are not diagnosed as a disorder, however, unless the person has at least four panic anxiety attacks within a space of four weeks.Panic Anxiety Disorder Treatment For those who have been diagnosed with the illness, it is important for them to seek professional help. While some medical professionals may recommend taking prescription medicine to avoid anxiety disorder symptoms, others professionals may recommend natural treatment.

Left untreated, anxiety is also a leading cause of obesity. People often eat out of emotional needs and stress. Being tense as a result of having anxiety is one reason that people may overeat and don't get enough exercise. Then the heavier that a person gets, the harder it is to leave the house to exercise, and the worse the anxiety symptoms become. The irony is that exercise has been shown to improve the symptoms of anxiety, and so it's actually beneficial for a person who has anxiety to exercise on a regular basis. Yet, without proper care from a health care professional, many fail to realize they need this regular exercise in order to combat their anxiety.There are ways that the effects of anxiety can be reduced and in many cases eliminated. Living a healthy lifestyle that includes regular medical care, whole foods that are high in vitamins and nutrients, supplementing with natural products, and a good balance of exercise and rest is the best treatment for anyone experiencing anxiety.




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