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Why Do I Have Anxiety Attacks

What Is An Anxiety Attack

What are Panic Attacks Why You Get them?

Anxiety attacks are a combination of physical and mental symptoms that are intense and overwhelming. The anxiety is more than just regular nervousness. The anxiety is often a feeling of immense, impending doom that makes many people feel they’re about to die, or that everything around them is breaking down.

It creates physical symptoms that are so severe they actually mimic legitimate, serious health problems.

Those that haven’t had an anxiety attack before often have no idea that what they’re experiencing is anxiety. That’s because the symptoms of anxiety attacks and panic attacks mimic extremely serious issues, such as:

  • Heart attacks and heart failure.

Yet despite how intense these things can feel, anxiety attacks are not even remotely dangerous.

The Link Between Anxiety Symptoms And Depression

Many people with anxiety disorders also suffer from depression at some point. Anxiety and depression are believed to stem from the same biological vulnerability, which may explain why they so often go hand-in-hand. Since depression makes anxiety worse , its important to seek treatment for both conditions.

A Note About Sex And Gender

Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms, male, female, or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. .

A doctor or mental health professional can diagnose a panic attack, panic disorder, or anxiety disorder.

They base their diagnoses on definitions in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition .

These professionals cannot diagnose an anxiety attack because it is not a clinically defined condition in the DSM-5. They can, however, recognize the symptoms of anxiety and diagnose an anxiety disorder.

A doctor will discuss symptoms and life events to diagnose any of these conditions. They may also perform a psychological evaluation to determine which category the symptoms fall into.

It may be necessary to rule out physiological conditions that share similar symptoms.

To do this, a doctor may perform:

  • a physical examination

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Causes Of Anxiety For No Reason Possibly Benefitting Psychological Help

  • Childhood adversity, incl. traumaWhat helps: first of all realise that you matter! You are unique, theres no one in the world like you. You have been born with unique gifts. The past need not define your future, you have already started your self-healing journey. Dont stop! You may find counselling or therapy beneficial.
  • Post-traumatic stress
  • The solution: get on top of your tendency for perfectionism and deal with any low self-esteem!
  • MenopauseThe solution: lifestyle adjustments and support to help you ride out the storm. For further information, see my article on 11 ways to survive the menopause. To help your partner or spouse support you, see how to help your spouse through the menopause.
  • ADD or ADHDThe solution well part-solution: do whatever you can to create a routine, to create space and order, andreduce distractions and triggers. Sleep and exercise.
  • Aspergers Syndrome AutismWhat to do: if you suspect that youre on the spectrum, youll need a diagnosis. Start by taking this test.
  • Gender dysphoria What to do about it: see if you can get a referral to a specialist clinic. Itll be such a relief for you to talk to professionals who understand.
  • Maternal stress during pregnancyYour mother went through a stressful time when you were still in the womb.What might help is talking to mum, if possible, hear her story and treat your anxiety as mentioned before.
  • Who Does It Affect

    Anxiety Attacks Are the Worst Because Sometimes You Have No Idea Why ...

    While panic disorder can affect anyone, there are certain groups of people that it affects more often than others.

    • Women: Like most other anxiety disorders, women are twice as likely as men to experience panic disorder.

    • Young adults: Panic disorder usually appears in your mid-twenties, although it can happen at any age. Three quarters of people with panic disorder experienced the onset before the age of 33. Although it can exist in kids, it’s often not diagnosed until they’re older.

    • People with a chronic illness: Three quarters of people with panic disorder report having at least one other diagnosed chronic physical or mental illness like diabetes or depression.

    • Family history: People with a family history of anxiety or depression are at greater risk for developing panic disorder.

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    Anxiety Attack Vs Panic Attack

    Unlike anxiety attacks, the term panic attack is recognized in the DSM-5. A panic attack is not a diagnosable condition on its own, but is a central symptom in panic disorder, as well as other anxiety disorders. According to the DSM-5, a panic attack can be expected or unexpected.

    There is no hard-and-fast rule about what differentiates an anxiety attack from a panic attack. However, you might think of an anxiety attack as something broader in nature.

    Anxiety attacks can be mild or moderate, as well as severe, and can encompass any of the symptoms of anxiety. Contrastingly, all panic attacks are disruptive and severe, in order to meet the symptoms of a panic attack as defined in the DSM-5.

    Fight Or Flight Response

    Anxiety is linked to the body’s fight or flight response. This is an evolutionary stress response to life-threatening situations. There is a physiological response of the sympathetic nervous system, including a rush of stress hormones, that prepares the body for the threat.

    In some people, this stress response is over-reactive, and non-threatening triggers like a work presentation, a haunted house, or even something so small it’s hard to identify, can lead to what we experience as “anxiety attacks.”

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    Panic Attacks And Panic Disorder

    Panic disorder is characterized by repeated, unexpected panic attacks, as well as fear of experiencing another episode. Agoraphobia, the fear of being somewhere where escape or help would be difficult in the event of a panic attack, may also accompany a panic disorder. If you have agoraphobia, you are likely to avoid public places such as shopping malls, or confined spaces such as an airplane.

    Could I Have Panic Disorder

    Anxiety Attacks
    Recognizing a panic attack

    Panic disorder involves repeated panic attacks, so it’s important to know what a panic attack feels like. Here is a list of signs that youre having a panic attack:

    • I feel like something terrible is going to happen

    • Im having trouble catching my breath

    • My heart is pounding

    • Im breaking out into a sweat

    • I feel lightheaded or dizzy

    • I have goose bumps or ‘chills’

    • I feel tingling in my hands and feet

    • I feel disconnected from reality

    • I feel nauseous

    If the first symptom plus several of the others come on suddenly, you may be experiencing a panic attack. Panic attacks usually peak within a few seconds or a few minutes, although it can take some time for all the symptoms to settle. Panic attacks can happen at any time and while they are sometimes triggered by a stressful life event, they can often appear to be triggered by nothing at all.

    Read Also: Do I Need Anxiety Medication

    When To Get Help

    See a GP if you’ve been experiencing symptoms of panic disorder.

    They’ll ask you to describe your symptoms, how often you get them, and how long you have had them.

    They may also carry out a physical examination to rule out other conditions that could be causing your symptoms.

    It can sometimes be difficult to talk about your feelings, emotions and personal life, but try not to feel anxious or embarrassed.

    You may be diagnosed with panic disorder if you have regular and unexpected panic attacks followed by at least a month of continuous worry or concern about having further attacks.

    Can You Have Anxiety With No Cause

    Even if you arent aware of it, there is a cause for your anxiety symptoms.

    It can take time to recognize patterns or learn how to identify what activates your anxiety. It may seem like the symptoms have come out of nowhere but thats because your body works on autopilot when it detects a threat.

    When the nervous system detects danger it activates your fight, flight, or freeze response. This causes anxiety symptoms that prepare your body for action, like:

    • a fast heartbeat
    • a feeling of doom

    The anxiety response is helpful in many instances, but it can become a problem when your nervous system misinterprets something harmless as a threat. In these cases, youre reacting to something thats not a true threat .

    Over time, your body may start generalizing possible threats so that something related to a thing youre afraid of also causes anxiety.

    Read Also: How To Treat High Functioning Anxiety

    What Is Morning Anxiety

    Although not a medical term, morning anxiety refers to waking up with feelings of stress and worry. If you are dealing with excessive anxiety, worry, and stress in the morning, theres a good chance you may also have generalized anxiety.

    Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive and uncontrolled worry that pervades daily life and occurs frequently for at least six months. People with GAD typically worry about everyday actives such as work, money, family, and health.

    The symptoms of morning anxiety often mimic those of generalized anxiety disorder. If you are struggling with anxiety upon waking, you may be experiencing:

    • feeling restless, on-edge, or wound up

    Morning anxiety can be caused by many factors that may also contribute to an anxiety disorder. Since morning anxiety is a reaction to excess stress and worries, there are several potential causes that may contribute to your symptoms.

    The stress hormone cortisol is released by the adrenal glands in response to fear or stress. Researchers have studied the cortisol awakening response and have found that cortisol is highest in the first hour of waking for people with an increased level of stress in their lives. This helps explain why you may experience an increase in anxiety in the morning.

    If you go to bed worrying or wake up during the night with anxious thoughts, you are likely to feel anxious and concerned about your day in the morning.

    What Happens Inside Your Body

    What is an anxiety disorder?

    Your bodyâs âfight or flightâ response is behind these intense physical symptoms. Normally when you encounter a threat — whether itâs a grizzly bear or a swerving car — your nervous system springs into action. The hormone adrenaline floods into your bloodstream, putting your body on high alert. Your heartbeat quickens, which sends more blood to your muscles. Your breathing becomes fast and shallow, so you can take in more oxygen. Your blood sugar spikes. Your senses get sharper.

    All of these changes — which happen in an instant — give you the energy you need to confront a dangerous situation or get out of harmâs way quickly.

    With random panic attacks, your body goes on alert for no reason. Researchers donât know exactly what triggers them. But the physical effects are real: During a panic attack, the adrenaline levels in the body can spike by 2 1/2 times or more.

    Panic attacks may not come as unexpectedly as they seem. The physical changes may start about an hour before an attack. In one study, people with panic disorder wore devices that tracked their heart activity, sweating, and breathing. The results showed lower-than-normal levels of carbon dioxide, a sign of rapid, deep breathing that can leave you breathless, as early as about 45 minutes before the panic attack.

    Read Also: How To Stop Yourself From Anxiety

    Types Of Anxiety Disorder

    There are several different classified anxiety disorders. Each disorder has different symptoms that certain situations may trigger.

    Anxiety disorders include :

    • Panic disorder : This involves frequent panic attacks accompanied by the constant fear of future attacks. People with panic disorder may lose a job, refuse to travel or leave their home, or completely avoid anything they believe will trigger an attack.
    • GAD: This is a constant state of worry or persistent feeling of dread, which may last months or years.
    • Social anxiety disorder: People will have an intense and persistent fear that others are watching and judging them.
    • Phobic disorder: This features intense anxiety and irrational fear of an object or situation, for example, a fear of spiders or open spaces. People with phobic disorder may be aware that their fear is irrational.

    As well as the physical symptoms of anxiety, people may experience the following:

    • feeling tense or nervous
    • seeking lots of reassurance from others
    • low mood or depression
    • rumination, which is when a person thinks about a situation or thought repeatedly
    • worry about what will happen in the future
    • worrying about anxiety, such as when a panic attack might occur

    Not every case of anxiety will include all these symptoms. Anxiety can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the trigger and how the person reacts to it.

    Anxiety that continues for a long time or has a specific trigger

    • the use of some medications
    • a recent or past traumatic experience

    When Is Anxiety A Problem

    Some people feel anxiety that is too intense. It seems like more than they can cope with. Worries or fears take up too much of their time and energy. Some people might begin to avoid things that make them anxious. These things can be signs of an anxiety disorder.

    If you feel like anxiety is too much, tell a parent, school counselor, or your doctor. There are treatments for anxiety disorders. The sooner you start getting help, the better you will feel.

    Recommended Reading: Can I Die From Anxiety

    Medical Conditions Which Can Cause Waves Of Anxiety

    Its important that your doctor or other health professional rules out any other problems you may have, such as:

  • Thyroid disorder
  • Digestive-tract disorders
  • These conditions can also cause you to suffer from anxiety, and anti-anxiety medication would absolutely not be necessary. Indeed, long-term it may make the problem much worse. Id be delighted, therefore, to show you how you can help yourself. So read on!

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    Contact Harmony Hills To Overcome Anxiety

    What’s the Difference Between Panic Attacks, Anxiety Attacks, and Panic Disorder? 1/3 Panic Attacks

    Life can feel overwhelming when you are struggling with an anxiety disorder. Harmony Hills provides comprehensive residential mental health treatment for anxiety and co-occurring disorders. Anxiety does not have to control your life. Contact our team at to discover how to overcome anxiety at Harmony Hills.

    Read Also: How To Reduce Anxiety Long Term

    How Is Panic Disorder Diagnosed

    Medical or mental health providers can diagnose panic disorder. Your provider may diagnose panic disorder when you have repeated panic attacks and you:

    • Persistently worry about having more panic attacks or their consequences.
    • Obsess about losing control during a panic attack.
    • Change your behaviors to avoid situations that may trigger a panic attack.

    What Are The Causes Of An Anxiety Attack

    It can be helpful to understand what is causing your anxiety to spike, because once you know whats causing an anxiety attack, you can work on addressing that, in the hope that it will stop you from continuing to have anxiety attacks.

    Usually anxiety attacks have more than one causeoften, several factors are at play at once. For example, an anxiety attack might come on when you havent slept well for a few nights in a row, youve drunk more caffeine than usual, and your workload has piled up at the same time.

    In other words, often anxiety attacks come on because of a perfect storm of unfortunate circumstances.

    Often, certain situations in life and life stressors are a cause of anxiety attacks. These may include:

    • An upsetting health diagnosis
    • Life transitions and identity crises

    Additionally, certain people seem to have an increased propensity toward anxiety and anxiety attacks. Some factors that may make you more susceptible include:

    • Genetics, as anxiety tends to run in families
    • Chemical imbalances, ongoing stress can change our hormonal and neurological make-up
    • A history of trauma, or PTSD

    Finally, there are certain risk factors that may make you more likely to experience an anxiety attack at some point in your life:

    Also Check: Do I Have Afib Or Anxiety

    How To Get Through An Anxiety Attack

    Here are some things that helped me while actually experiencing an anxiety attack.

    • Take deep breaths
    • Rinse your face in the sink
    • Talk to yourself. Youre in control of the situation.

    Thanks for reading my post on Anxiety attack symptoms. If you have anything to add feel free to do so in the comments section. Or check us out on Facebook to post any questions or other things anxiety related.

    Until next time.

    When Is Anxiety A Mental Health Problem

    i have really bad panic disorder. so why not make a meme

    Anxiety can become a mental health problem if it impacts your ability to live your life as fully as you want to. For example, it may be a problem if:

    • your feelings of anxiety are very strong or last for a long time
    • your fears or worries are out of proportion to the situation
    • you avoid situations that might cause you to feel anxious
    • your worries feel very distressing or are hard to control
    • you regularly experience symptoms of anxiety, which could include panic attacks
    • you find it hard to go about your everyday life or do things you enjoy.

    If your symptoms fit a particular set of medical criteria then you might be diagnosed with a particular anxiety disorder. But it’s also possible to experience problems with anxiety without having a specific diagnosis. Our pages on self-care and treatment for anxiety offer suggestions for help and support.

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    Can You Prevent Panic Attacks From Happening Or Reduce The Symptoms When Youre On The Brink Of One

    Our autonomic nervous system is all or nothing, meaning that if we can turn off a component of it, the entire system responds, explains Furnival. So when the sympathetic nervous system kicks into gearthis is your bodys fight-or-flight responsewe may be able to cut off the panic attacks trajectory by quickly engaging in deep breathing and grounding techniques that initiate the parasympathetic nervous system, calming you down. She recommends practicing deep breathing and reciting affirmations when youre not having a panic attack so youre primed and ready if and when the real thing happens. She also notes that trying to avoid a panic attack and being fearful of one can ironically increase its frequency . If we can engage in deep breathing and repeat phrases like, This is a panic attack and it will end soon or I am having a panic attack and I will be okay, we find that we can handle panic attacks, as awful as they are and feel.

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