Recognizing and Dealing with Anxiety Attack

An anxiety attack goes beyond the butterflies in the stomach, the dry mouth, and the sweaty palms. Feelings of anxiousness or nervousness affect everyone on occasion, but those symptoms and more become evident if you or someone around you experiences an anxiety attack. These extremely anxious moments are also called panic attacks, and they afflict thousands of people on a daily basis.

Doctors aren't positive what causes an anxiety attack, and they can happen to all age groups and both men or women. While some preexisting health conditions may play a role in the development of an anxiety attack, most are unexpected and can leave a lasting impression on the victim. It is understood that people who are depressed or alcoholic may show a higher risk of developing an anxiety attack. Some even experience an anxiety attack by the mere fear of having one. Other conditions such as heart or breathing problems can also trigger an anxiety attack, so it's wise to see a physician if you have these symptoms, at least so the doctor can rule out a physical cause to increasing anxiety.

The most common symptom of an anxiety attack is a sense of extreme fear. Other symptoms can be experienced, but every person feels different things. Among those symptoms, the most common is a fear of being embarrassed or experiencing a feeling of doom. Some people believe they'll die. Others prone to anxiety attack feel isolated. Some people experience an anxiety attack frequently, while others don't. An anxiety attack can come out of left field or it can work itself into a frenzy by just worrying about getting one. The symptoms of an anxiety attack are more frightening than harmful, but in some cases, the more a person tries to react to the anxiety attack, the worse it gets.

The good news is that an anxiety attack is generally not life threatening, unless the person experiencing it happens to place him or herself in physical danger. When left untreated, frequent experiences of anxiety attack can drive some people to alcohol or drugs to cope. People who suffer symptoms of frequent anxiety attack become moody, withdrawn and experience increasing difficulties with work and home relationships.

Many people don't want to admit they need help. An anxiety attack is not something that most people want to talk about or share, and coupled with already existing conditions of low self-esteem or embarrassment, they may be hesitant to seek help. But help is out there. One good friend or close family member is all it takes to initiate the process and seek help for those who suffer from the effects of anxiety attack experiences. Patience and understanding go a long way to helping others deal with the problem and accept treatment.

Treatment for anxiety attack suffers is available. However, it's vital to recognize the disorder before help can be obtained. It's up to caregivers, friends and loved ones to know about anxiety attack signs and symptoms so that we can do just that.

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