Anxiety Attacks
There is really no difference between anxiety attacks and panic attacks in the psychology profession and the two are treated as interchangeable terms that describe one and the same thing. Nevertheless, anxiety attacks may be thought of as being a milder version of panic attacks.
The main thing about an anxiety attack is that it occurs abruptly and causes the person to suffer extreme anxiety.
An anxiety attack that includes irrational feelings of panic, terror or fear may be considered a panic attack.
A definition of an anxiety attack would be that it is an acute bout of anxiety of intense nature and also results in the person feeling panicky.
There are a number of possible causes of an anxiety attack and these include panic attacks, panic disorders, panic disorders accompanied by agoraphobia, panic disorders not accompanied by agoraphobia as well as anxiety disorders.
There are certain risk factors that do not directly cause the attacks but are nevertheless associated in some way or the other. The presence of risk factors may make the occurrence of anxiety attacks more likely though they do not necessarily result in an anxiety attack.
Obtain a Diagnosis When You Spot Anxiety Attack Symptoms
There are certain signs as well as symptoms associated with anxiety attacks and these may be noticeable to the patient, the doctor or both. The signs and symptoms of an anxiety attack include anxiety, extreme anxiety, irrational anxiety, chest pain, difficulty in breathing and these signs and symptoms may vary from individual to individual.
It is fortuitous that there are many treatments available to effectively battle anxiety attacks and these include therapy relaxation techniques and, more importantly, the person should have a balanced and healthy lifestyle to help reduce anxiety and stay in complete control of ones own life.
Anybody who has been suffering intense anxiety or worry for at least six months or even more may be a victim of an anxiety disorder and this worry may interfere with their work, relationships as well as normal activities.
In such cases, the person ought to consult a doctor and obtain medications as well as obtain a diagnosis of the medical illness.
There are certain medical conditions that closely mimic or cause anxiety and there are also medications as well as substances which may induce anxiety in a person - so one should take care to be well informed and err on the side of caution.
robbie Says:
i feel anxious every morning when i arrive on the bus?
Anxiety Attack Survivor Says:
Anxiety Attacks are brutal. I went through that nightmare for years before overcoming them.
-B
josh geese Says:
i had an anxiety attack recently on dec. 15 2007 and it was terrifying i started to feel like i was going crazy couldnt breaath trembling violentley i felt horrible for the next few days please help.
carmel Says:
I HAD A VERY SERIOUS ATTACK ON THIS MORNNING 21/12/07 SHORTNESS OF BREATH, CHEST PAIN SHACKING OUT OF CONTROL, NAUSEAS AND PINS AND NEDDLES ALL OVER MY BODY.
A FREIND CALLED 000 THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD CONTROL ME OVER THE PHONE 40MINS LATER I GOT ANOTHER ATTACK AS GOT UO TO GO TO THE GP, SHE CALLED AN AMBULANCE AND TOOK ME TO THE HOSPITAl, MY FRIEND SUFFERS FROM THE SAME PROBLEM AND GAVE ME ONE OF HER TABLETS WHICH LATER WORKED WHILE I WAS IN THE AMBULANCE, THIS WAS THE WORST EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD,CHILD BIRTH WAS EASIER.
STRESS IS THE MAIN CAUSE, 4 KIDS AND A HUSBAND WHO IS HARDLEY HOME AND WHEN HE IS LITTLE HELP, HOW CAN I CANTROL IT NEXT TIME ? IHAVE NO IDEA.
satish Says:
I am a psychological student, i want to know that
can anyone die at the time of panic attack
Anxiety Attacks Says:
Satish, nobody can die from a panic attack.
Madison Says:
I have had episodes of raging heartbeat, agonizing chest pain, shortness of breath, tunel vision, hot flashes and dizziness. These episodes are random and do not seem to have any common trigger.
I am only 18 years old and have a small, so far non-intrusive ventricular septal defect. I am curious to see if these episodes are panic attacks or a worsenned problem with my heart.
Kerry Says:
My boyfriend and I recently have got back from working on a 40m barge in France where my partner and the owners wife conflicted seriously. It was a very unhealthy work environment but we endured it, even though my partner started to feel like he was going crazy.
He now sometimes feels the same way and can’t quite explain what he is feeling, but that he is changed and won’t be able to get back to normal. Is this an anxiety attack or something else, and what can he do to make these feelings disappear?
jenny Says:
Kerry, this is a panic attact. He would no die from this but he is feelig that he will. try to get help for him ,this is a very bad feeling and gets worse.
Linda Says:
I have two comments.
For Kerry: I agree with Jenny — it sounds like an anxiety attack, and something similar has been happening to me, although my circumstances were different from your boyfriend. I say, “When in doubt, go to your doctor.” I only wish I knew what to tell you about making them stop. I believe that there are answers, and I am in the process of finding them as well. We’re all in this together!
For Madison I would say the same. Of course, I am not sure about the non-intrusive ventricular septal defect you mentioned — I’m sure there’s nothing to lose by seeing your doctor. I know that it is not unheard of for people your age to have panic attacks (I had a school nurse tell me that she’s had junior-high aged kids have panic attacks as well). I’d never ever try to tell you what the problem is, but let it be known that there are people who care. It would be good to know how you’re doing at this time.
Take care!
ROCHELLE BRIGHT Says:
i went thru an anxiety attact in last year october,i went to a funeral and a funny sent comes over me and i was so frighten,then i felt my body feelin different my foot feel num,my body get weak and my head start swelling as if am going to die then i start sreaming and getting out of control saying am going die and i was so afraid,fraid to go in the bathroom,afraid of hurses ans much more.so can anxiety cause you to die.
Anxiety Attacks Says:
No Rochelle, anxiety can’t cause you to die, it just feels that way.
Angeleyes Says:
I think I might be having panic attacks. I’m not real sure. When I was younger I mixed Prozac and pot and had what I think was a panic attack.
I felt dizzy, my heart was pounding, I felt like I had ants biting me all over, had goosebumps etc. I started having problems driving and having my stomach flip like I was on a roller coaster not long ago and tried taking Paxil and woke up in the middle of the night feeling the same way I did when the Prozac and pot were mixed.
Now I’m having problems functioning in my every day activities and and terrified to take any meds even though I’m sure I’d feel better if I did.
Help!???
Ana Says:
I am 26 years, old and the day after my birthday I had a major Panic Attack that came from nowhere. THe heart palpitaion beating rapidly, the muscle tension with heat, the chest pain, sweating, trembling, nausea.
I went to my doctors of course been diagnosed with anxiety/panic disorder. Since my first panic attack back in Feb. I haven’t been the same, everyday I live with anxiety symptons and everyday i feel like if I am dying. I have had another major panic attack. Every morning I wake up nausous and my hands and feet are sweating.
I can’t fucntion, my ears feel constantly plugged I have severe chest pain. I am basically helpless. Can this really be anxiety this bad or can it be any other illness. Please help, and has anybody else ever expierenced it this bad like me. I also have many more symptons everyday but they are too many too list.
Help Me, Please
Stephanie Says:
I started having anxiety Feb. of 2007. I felt like I was really losing my mind. Like I needed to be in a menatal institution, thoughts were racing out of control.
I felt like I was not even real or the people around me were real. I was overcomed with the thought of life. Heart was pounding out of control. Felt like I could just disapear. I knew I was going to die. I was too scared to say anything to anyone therefor I just paced around going crazy in my mind.
Scared to death. I want it all to go away. It is April and I still have them but not near as bad. I am trying to overcome. I need support.
eman Says:
I’m 6 1/2 months pregant i having realy bad anxity and before i was prgant i was taking lexoprofor almost 3 months and i was feeling so much better then i found out i was pregant and stoped the medican the next day i was doing so good until now.
I can’t control my anxity and i’m scared to take any mediction while im pregant and im scared of feeling like this still after i have the baby and not be able to take care or bond with the baby so plz tell me what i should do i have 2 kids right now and its hard to deal with them when im feeling like this.
My brain just cant stop worrying and thinkin about everything i just feel so dead inside.
carly Says:
i have been having panic attacks since 12 months ago. i also have severe stress and anxiety. this all started one night when my eustacian tube gave way and fluid entered my inner ear. this caused massive vertigo and blocked ears. my ears are almost constantly blocked.
yesterday is started taking lexapro for the the first time. i ended up in hospital about an hour after taking it. it felt like my brain had snapped. i was having irrational thoughts, talking really fast, scattered and talking in voices.
it was like it was a bad trip. is this normal? i had to be given valium to settle down my brain. since then i have had constant anxiety and verged on having a panic attack twice already.
is there anything i can do. the bad expreriences ive had with with medication make me never want to take it again and i am constantly on edge and feeling like im going to die. im going out of my mind and its like i almost need to go to the psych ward for help
cathy Says:
I’ve been having anxiety for prob about 8 months, in the morning I feel my breathing isnt right but it isnt real bad, I have changed jobs 3, I hate to say in the last few months, I get this overwhelming feeling all of a sudden, that I cant cope and think I cant do this anymore, amd break down crying, I just have to walk out and cant return to the job, its a vicious circle I’m a single mum, so need to work to pay the bills, so of course all this causes me more stress.
I have a doctors appointment tomorrow, I’ve also suffered from depression most of my life, which is in my family, I’m aware my father ended up leaving his job as he couldnt cope, which ive always been scared of that I would end up the same, I need to hear that there is a way to cope with this, as like most we have to keep up with life, I’m scared I will lose the things i’m working for, which is to provide a home for my daughter, I feel I need to keep it together for her mainly, to provide for her.
alice Says:
how long do these last having a real bad bad one has lasted for 2 hours shaking feeling like i’m gone to die i feel really wierd and scared more than any thing cant quit skaking or really trembling and i am scared i m going to get worse ?
kammie Says:
Hello ,ive been dealing with aniety attacks for a while now and its bad.im having chest pains, burning, in chest,feeling as if im going to die,having crazy thoughts like dajaevu. I feel like everyone around me is going to get hurt,i havent seen my doc.yet but i plan on asap.Ive been looking for the lords help in getting me though like reading the bible and having my mom pray for everyday