Some Basic Information on Anxiety Attacks

Those of you who have had an anxiety attack, know what it is and how it feels. You will have experienced the terror of a pounding 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.

What are the Symptoms of an Anxiety Attack?

There are both mental and physical symptoms of an anxiety attack. Both can be crippling. They can last anywhere from a few seconds to hours. The average attack lasts thirty minutes.  They can also vary in severity form mild to intense. The physical effects range from: sweating, inability to catch the breath, racing pulse, hot flashes or chills. Click here for more on cures for 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’s at the Root of an Anxiety Attack?

Anxiety attacks can be caused by several things. Genes or family history may play a part. If you have members of your family that have experienced anxiety attacks you may have a greater likelihood of suffering with them also. But those without such connections 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 cures for Anxiety Attacks

Other physical disoreders can also have an impact. For instance compulsive obsessive disorder, a vitamin B deficiency, post traumatic stress disorder, hypoglycemia or an unbalanced thyroid can cause panic or anxiety attacks. Anxiety attacks can also be caused by chemicals introduced into the body. These include “heavy duty” drugs, like Ritalin, anti-depressants, and all SSRI drugs, but also nicotine, alcohol, and even caffeine.

Finally, if the sufferer has a history of phobias, panic attacks of family bereavement, this is also likely to increase the risk of an anxiety attack.

If you would like more information please visit our Anxiety and Panic Attacks homepage.