Anxiety Attack Symptoms - How to Know If You Are Suffering From Anxiety and Panic Attacks

Anxiety attack symptoms can be felt throughout the body, from the tips of your toes to the top of your head. The reason for this is the body's own hormonal and nervous system, working in a slightly faulty way. Each of the most commonly reported effects of anxiety attacks can be directly attributed to the bodies fight or flight reaction, which is caused by the release of the hormone adrenaline into the body.

Anxiety Attack Symptoms:

A rapid heart beat,
that feels like a heart attack - Adrenaline speeds up the heart in order to supply the muscles with extra oxygen, to allow us to either fight or run away very fast!

Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet
often interpreted as a sign of a heart attack - During the fight or flight response the body moves the blood supply away from the less vital organs, such as hands and feet, towards the muscles etc that would again need more oxygen to fight.

Nausea
Again as the blood supply focuses on the vital areas for the upcoming situation, the blood leaves the digestive system. The system slows down and it can result in vomiting or the need to suddenly go to the toilet.

Breathlessness, hyperventilation or a choking sensation - The release of adrenaline into the body results in a requirement for a lot more oxygen, and the respiration rate and depth elevates very quickly.

Blurred vision
The pupils of the eye actually dilate rapidly during the fight or flight response, presumably to allow as much light and visual information to be collected as possible.

Dry mouth
Adrenaline results in a dry mouth.

A feeling of tension in the muscles
All the main muscles tense ready for action, fight or flight.

Confusion, loss of concentration, and becoming restless
When the fight or flight response is triggered the minds priority is to search it's surroundings for the threat. That is also combined with a slight reduction in oxygen to the brain as the blood flows to the main muscle groups.

As can be clearly seen there is a direct link between the fight or flight response and the symptoms of Anxiety and Panic Attacks and anxiety disorder. Anxiety attack sufferers learn to fear the onset of these symptoms and their general level of anxiety increases, so they are living there lives in a near constant state of fear. When someone starts an attack, they can't understand our bodies reactions, so their imagination takes over, they imagine the worst often a heart problem. In fact at least 25% of adults who visit the emergency room complaining of chest pain are in fact experiencing a Panic Attack. So it can be seen that this cycle of body sensation, anxiety, imagination and Panic Anxiety Disorders become a vicious circle, that needs to be interrupted to cure the anxiety disorder. Many of the panic attacks treatment and anxiety cures advised by your doctor,fail to do this. Prescribed medication, such as the benzodiazepine family, have a limited success over a short period of time.

Some of the cognitive therapies being developed,have been massively successful in overcoming panic attacks and anxiety disorder. Some of these therapies have a success rate of over 93%, depending on how much commitment the sufferer is prepared to show to the cure.

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Mild Panic Attack - What Are The Best Treatment Options?

A mild panic attack may not seem like such a big problem at first but you should never ignore it. Instead, should welcome it as a sign that something is not going as well use you think. A panic attack can be compared to a warning and therefore should be taken quite seriously.

It is important to understand that if you don't treat mild anxiety it can quickly develop into a much more severe form of anxiety disorder. Some people who thought that they were suffering from simple stress ended up with serious mental disorders which are eventually quite difficult to treat.

Of course, the point of this article is not to put some pressure on you but I really want you to take into account that general anxiety disorders must be treated as soon as they are discovered.

Now, as far as the symptoms are concerned I can't list them all but the most common ones are heart palpitations, sweating, stomach cramps, chest discomfort, fatigue as well as stress and some restlessness.

If you happen to have suffered from at least three of the above mentioned symptoms then you really ought to take it as a warning and stop looking for options to deal with your anxiety so that it doesn't worsen over time.

Now, let's take a look at the treatment options available these days.

The most common and yet least effective treatment option remains medication. Anti-anxiety drugs along with antidepressants are often prescribed to people who suffer from mild panic attacks and I really believe that this is wrong. First of all, this sort of medication does not treat the condition but will only reduce the symptoms for a short period of time.

After a while, you will have to up the dosage which can lead to an addiction and this clearly what you want to avoid. What you need is a remedy that works long-term and prevents your mild panic and anxiety attacks from turning into severe ones.

So, if we drop the medication option what are the other treatments left? Well, in fact quite a few different alternatives are available and more and more techniques are being developed since chronic anxiety has become a real problem throughout the world.

Natural treatments are highly recommended to treat anxiety problems. Since you are suffering from mild panic attacks I would strongly recommend that you go for simple and easy reading and relaxation exercises.

Meditation is also an option and can provide an immense relief. Meditation calms you down and can therefore prevent anxiety from building up.

The key element is simply to get your stress level down and this is the most important thing to bear in mind when you try to eradicate the condition. Some people have used natural herbs including gingko biloba, passion flower and St John's wort to get their stress level down and it has worked wonders.

Online programs can be very useful as well and some of them offers CBT which stand for cognitive behavioural therapy. What you do is you learn to shift your negative thoughts to positive ones and progressively learn how to cope with the symptoms of anxiety but also learn how to recognise the first signs of an oncoming panic attack in order to stop it.

So, as a conclusion I would say that a mild panic attack is easily treatable if taken early. It is best to look for an effective cure as soon as possible in order to avoid further complications later on. Lots of tips and advice are available these days and can help you eradicate your condition for good in a very reasonable time.

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Anxiety Remedies - The Fastest and Easiest Methods?

Though it is normal to feel anxious sometimes, but feeling anxious without any apparent reason frequently or for prolonged periods of time can affect your daily activities, resulting in Anxiety Disorder. The common symptoms of anxiety disorder include feeling tense, restlessness, impatience, irritability, or poor concentration. Some people might even experience physical symptoms such as headache, muscle tension, insomnia, fatigue, indigestion, chest tightness, dry mouth, excessive sweating, and bloating. These symptoms of anxiety disorder need to be evaluated by your doctor for him to diagnose appropriate anxiety remedies.

Some of the most effective and commonly used anxiety remedies include:

Herbal remedies

Herbs such as passionflower have been used for a long time to treat problems like insomnia and anxiety. However, it has certain side effects associated with it such as drowsiness, nausea, vomiting and quickening of heart beat. Pregnant women, children, and people suffering from liver or kidney disease should consult a physician before taking it.

Valerian is known to be one of the best herbal remedies for insomnia. It is also effective for people suffering from mild anxiety. It is usually taken about an hour before going to sleep. Side effects of this herb include headache, palpitations, dizziness, and mild indigestion. Valerian should never be combined with medications like anti-histamines or sedatives.

Kava is another herb known to have anti-anxiety effects and is thus, useful for people suffering from anxiety disorder.

Bodywork

Different kinds of body work like shiatsu and massage therapy are known to have a positive influence on anxiety disorder as they are known to relieve stress, reduce muscle tension and improve sleeping patterns.

Mind & Body Techniques

Mind & Body techniques such as physical exercise, breathing exercises, self-hypnosis, meditation, tai chi, and biofeedback are also known to be effective in fighting against anxiety attacks. You can make use of different techniques of mind and body techniques to determine which course suits you the best.

Aromatherapy

Different variety of aromatherapy essential oils can be added to massage oils, bath water or used with infusers as effective anxiety remedies. Essential oils reduce anxiety and nerve tension to a great extent. Some of the most effective essential oils for easing anxiety attacks include lavender, jasmine, geranium, cypress, bergamot, Melissa, rose, neroli, sandalwood and ylang-ylang.

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Natural Medicine For Anxiety

Anxiety is a state governed by apprehensiveness and concern. It is the normal reaction of the body and mind to a stressful situation. A person becomes anxious in certain situations such as a due homework assignment, not reaching on time for an appointment, or not being prepared for an interview or exam. Anxiety can become a serious problem when the mental state of the person does not improve and the anxiety lasts for a long period of time. There are various ways in which anxiety disorders can be treated, from counseling to natural medicine for anxiety.

Here is some of the most effective and commonly used natural medicine for anxiety:

Kava Kava

It is used for promoting sleep and reducing anxiety levels in a person. Recommended dosage is 250 mg of kavalactone (the active ingredient) three times a day after meals. However, this natural medication should not be taken for a very long period of time.

Valerian

Valerian extract is used for the treatment of insomnia and anxiety throughout the world. It functions as a painkiller and a sedative. If taken at bedtime, Valerian roots helps in preventing panic attacks during the night time. It is sage when taken for short time periods. A 150 mg dose should be taken thrice a day to get rid of anxiety. If taking in the form of herb, boil one teaspoon of valerian root in a pint of boiling water for about 10 minutes. Strain and add some honey to get the desired taste. Drink a cup of this solution before going to bed. Those suffering from severe anxiety can add a drop of valerian oil to their bath water.

Other natural medicine for anxiety

Borage Juice: It exerts a stimulating effect on our glandular system. It purifies the blood and works as a general tonic. Take about 1 tablespoon of this juice with warm water for about 2 weeks.

Ashwaganda:It is one of the most important strengthening tonic used in Ayurvedic medicine. Intake of ? teaspoon or 1 capsule of the tincture, two times a day, is great for treating anxiety symptoms.

Bugleweed: It soothes the nerve and brings instant relief from anxiety. Boil 1 teaspoon of this herb in water and add lime before drinking.

California poppy:It works as a herbal tranquilizer

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Panic Attacks While Driving - How to Keep Yourself Out of Danger

By Jonathan Masters Jonathan Masters
Level: Platinum

Jonathan Masters is a writer and former panic and anxiety sufferer. In 2008 he started his own business and very quickly began suffering from panic ...

There is never a good time to have a panic attack, but there is no worse time than in the car. Panic while driving has caused many people to give up driving all together and can even lead to severe cases of agoraphobia in which suffers refuse to leave their houses for years at a time. I want to help you avoid this by gaining confidence over your panic. As soon as you realize that you can handle any attack at any time, you can shed the fear of driving and even the agoraphobia that can follow it.

Now some of the most common methods for dealing with panic in the car are to call a friend or to sing along with the radio. I don't recommend these methods for two reasons.

They are distracting.They don't actually stop the panic.

I have three rules for dealing with panic attacks in the car. They are simple, but important to follow to keep yourself safe. Remember that the last place you want to be out of control is behind the wheel of a 2 ton vehicle.

Remove All Distractions - Turn off the radio complete, leave your cell phone where it is and get out of the fast lane of traffic. Do everything you can to minimize your incoming stimuli. The problem here is that all of the things taking up your attention are making your panic worse, so get rid of them before trying to deal with the attack itself. The minute you feel lightheaded and short of breath, start removing all distractions in preparation and do your best to create a calm environment.Talk Yourself Through It Positively - Talking yourself through a panic attack in the car isn't just about saying soothing things, it's about confidence. Speak slowly and calmly and remind yourself that this just a panic attack. It's nothing serious and it will be gone soon. Don't try to talk yourself out of panic, instead talk yourself through it. Remind yourself that you can handle what's happening and will not be distracted away from the task at hand. Often times just saying this out loud is enough to curb the feelings of panic completely. You see, the key here is that we're not saying things like "I can't do this right now," or "Oh, please don't do this again. Not right now!" Those imply weakness and imply that we can't handle the situation, which only makes your panic worse. Stay in control and tell yourself that while your body feels this way, you are only going to focus on driving. Tell yourself that it is okay to feel what you're feeling because you are fully in control of the situation.If All Else Fails, Pull Over - Should worse come to worse, pull over. Don't be a hero. For most people this type of focus and reassuring self talk can defuse their feelings of panic before it becomes too much to handle. If, however you find that your panic is too much and you do have to pull off to the side of the road, it may be time to find a stronger technique. My personal favorite is called the 21-7 technique, which was partially designed for driving anxiety but regardless, remember that the important thing is to listen to your body and stay safe when on the road.This article has been viewed 12 time(s).
Article Submitted On: November 15, 2010

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Coping With Panic Attacks - Can CBT Really Help?

If you've been struggling with panic and anxiety attacks for a long time and have not yet found a suitable remedy it is very important that you look into the matter quickly and find an effective cure before it is too late.

Look, I'm not trying to be patronising or anything but I just want to warn you that if you don't learn how to cope with your anxiety episodes in the first place and then eradicate them for good they could turn into much more serious mental health problems such as social phobia for instance. Many people who did not manage to get proper help are now facing a much harder battle with their mental health issues.

Is this what you really want? Of course it isn't! I have been in this situation before and I totally understand how you feel. You may have tried medications and as you know that benzodiazepines only work short-term and produce side-effects. They are also very addictive which makes it not the right option. Furthermore, once you get hooked on them, which is very likely to happen, the day you decide to come off them the withdrawals symptoms are extremely harsh. So, the best course of action for now is simply to stay away from any form of anxiety pills if you can.

Learning how to cope with panic attacks doesn't have to be that difficult though. Thousands of sufferers have succeeded and there is no reason why you shouldn't either.

Many new techniques have been developed lately so let's have a look at a particular effective solution that can help you and your anxiety disorder for good. CBT or cognitive behavioural therapy is certainly one of the most effective remedy out there to treat anxiety. What cognitive behavioural therapy does is simply focus on shifting your thinking pattern from negative to positive. There is quite a lot to learn about CBT and some of it includes role-playing as well as relaxation exercises.

Cognitive behavioural therapy can help you cope with anxiety and panic attacks but most importantly by learning how to re training your brain, it can totally change the way your it works and by doing this it can allow you to recognise the first signs and symptoms of an oncoming panic attack. You can then be prepared for it and eventually also simply learn to prevent them from happening.

CBT is a truly effective treatment option and should be considered straight away by anyone suffering from an anxiety-related disorder. This sort of therapy also includes lots of tips and mental exercises easy to practice and online programmes are pretty affordable.

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Reduce Stress at Work

It is so important to reduce stress at work, since many spend most of their waking hours in the workplace. To be subjected to excessive stress on a daily basis may result in both psychological as well as physical damage.

In order for us to function properly, there has to exist a certain level of stress. This acceptable stress level is totally necessary. In fact, without it we would not even be able to get out of bed. However; when that level is exceeded, it becomes 'distress' and it is this repeated exposure that slowly but surely impacts on our health and functionality.

So it becomes important that we reduce stress at work as well as in our personal life in order to have long as well as enjoyable lives. A constant level of high stress can lead to psychological and emotional problems such as depression and anxiety. Having to suffer in this way in our jobs on a continual daily basis does not make for a very satisfying lifestyle.

It is a fact that millions of individuals suffer from work related stress. It gives rise to a serious lowering of our effectiveness when working, as well as it being the cause of many illnesses leading to absenteeism.

Stress in the workplace costs the country many millions every year and governments as well as employers desperately seek any system or approach that will reduce stress at work.

As a psychotherapist I see at first hand what an excess of stress and anxiety on a continual basis can lead to. Some of its manifestations show themselves in the form of extreme anxiety and depression as well as low self esteem. Some of the more effective 'tools' used to reduce stress at work and elsewhere are hypnotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and neuro linguistic programming.

An important element in our battle to reduce stress at work is the adoption of a fresh and more insightful perception of our own reality. The more fixed and intransigent the individual is in his or her perception of what is important in life; the more susceptible she is to the pernicious effects of excessive stress.

It becomes apparent that excessive stress and anxiety at work or elsewhere in our lives is to be avoided if we are to live healthy and happy lives, so the employment of therapeutic tools along with a radical revision in our perception becomes essential.

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