Anxiety and Panic Attacks - Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

Anxiety is an ongoing sense of fear, nervousness, or fear. This can be a real threat even though there is usually in the mind. Often with anxiety, we visualize the worst possible scenario occurs in some future event.

panic attack is a brief period of acute anxiety that comes on all at once. This happens when there is no real danger. This can happen without warning, although it is often consistent with responses to certain events. Anxiety panic attack when the body symptoms appear.

Keep in mind that often phobias are often involved in the anxiety and panic attacks as well. This is because the body of symptoms associated with phobias may be the same as those associated with anxiety and panic attacks.

Generally speaking, anxiety is the fear of future events, such as phobias conditioned response to what you have learned or experienced in the past.

------- Signs and symptoms --------

· rapid pulse and / or breathing rate. Racing or pounding heart.

· feeling that you have to "go out " or "draw "

· dry mouth. Sweating. Shaking.

· Shortness of breath. Weakness.

· numbness and tingling in hands, feet or other body part.

· feeling of "lump in the throat ."

· stomach problems.

· sleep problems.

People who have a panic attack may end up in the emergency room. They think they have a heart attack. They feel like they are going crazy or will die. They are often told that the tests found nothing and that they are only experiencing a high level of stress.

People who have repeated panic attacks begin to avoid places that have connections with past attacks. If a person had a panic attack in a grocery store and had to leave the store to feel safe, a person who avoids going to the grocery store. This can lead to a phobia called agoraphobia .

A person who has 4 or more panic attacks in any 4 weeks could be panic disorder . disorder may also be present if the person has less than 4 panic attacks in 4 weeks, but fears that once again.

-------- Causes -------

Some anxiety is normal. It can keep you safe from natural hazards. Anxiety is normal, though, when you overcome and interferes with day-to-day life. If you are making or changing plans based on the fact that you are worried, "might happen", you are acting out of anxiety.

Anxiety can be a symptom of many conditions. These are:

· having too much caffeine.

· Lack of sleep or erratic sleep habits

· Withdrawal reactions from nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, drugs or medications, such as sleeping pills.

· side effects of some drugs.

· low blood sugar.

· overactive thyroid gland.

· Cushing Syndrome . In addition, the adrenal glands above the kidneys make too many hormones.

· heart attack

Anxiety can also be a symptom of a disease known as anxiety disorders. These are:

· phobia.

· panic disorder.

· obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) . In addition, a person is persistent, involuntary thoughts or images (obsessions). The person also does not ritual acts, such as washing hands in accordance with certain self-imposed rules (constraints ).

· posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) .

-------- treatment of --------

Anxiety disorders are very common problems. They often respond to treatment. When anxiety is mild and / or does not interfere with daily life, can be dealt with through self-care measures. Treatment also includes:

· treatment of any medical condition that causes anxiety or panic attacks.

· drugs.

· counseling.

· self-help groups for anxiety disorders.

Self-Care / Prevention

· Look for the cause of stress that results in anxiety. Deal with it. Use stress management techniques. Do deep breathing exercises. Meditate.

· reduce your exposure to things that cause trouble.

· Talk about your fears and anxieties with someone you trust, such as a friend, partner, teacher, etc.

· Regular exercise (eg 30 minutes to 1 hour, 5 times a week ).

Eat healthy foods. Eat at regular times.

• Does not skip meals. If you are prone to episodes of low blood sugar, eat 5 to 6 small meals a day instead of three larger. Avoid sweets on a regular basis, but carry a source of sugar with you at all times, such as small can of orange juice. This will give you a quick source of sugar in case you get low blood sugar reactions.

· to limit or avoid caffeine intake after noon.

Avoid nicotine and alcohol.

Avoid medications that stimulate. Examples are over-the-counter diet pills and pills to keep you awake.

· Do some form of relaxation exercises daily. Examples include meditation and deep breathing.

"landscapes timetable for what you can handle physically and mentally.

· Practice for planned events that are made ​​to feel anxious in the past or that you think will cause anxiety. Imagine yourself feeling calm and under control during the event. Do this several times before it actually happens.

· Fearless. Accept it, do not fight it. (You may need outside help .)

· Be prepared to deal with the symptoms of anxiety. For example, if you have hyperventilated in the past, worn paper bag with you. If you can not hyperventilate, cover your mouth and nose with a paper bag and breath in and out 10 times

· help others. positive feelings from this can help relieve some of their anxiety.

· Read self-help books on anxiety, panic attacks, etc.