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For those who suffer from panic-related
disorders, the road to recognition, diagnosis and recovery can
be long and frightening. Despite what some people may think,
an anxiety attack is very real for the person suffering from
it and can create a number of other symptoms that are troubling.
The symptoms of an attack range from those that mimic heart attacks
and strokes to somewhat less serious conditions.
The road to dealing with an anxiety-related
condition begins with first understanding what it is and recognizing
its symptoms. Basically, a panic or anxiety attack involves rapid
onset fear that strikes without warning and doesn't seem to have
a cause. The feeling can be crippling and is worse than simply
"feeling anxious" or being "stressed." Often,
those suffering from an attack will not be able to identify what
thoughts or feelings triggered the attack.
Having a single anxiety attack doesn't
necessarily signal a real problem that will continue. In fact,
it is estimated that at least one out of 75 people worldwide
will experience a full-fledged attack at some point in their
life. Many people who experience an attack never have one again,
but others will experience them repeatedly.
For those who have repeat attacks,
they could be part of a more troublesome emotional disorder or
a period of severe stress in one's life. Panic disorder itself
is considered one of the most common emotional illnesses, yet
is the least treated. This is perhaps due to a person's embarrassment
about the condition or unwillingness to admit there is a serious
problem.
Unfortunately for those who suffer
from repeat attacks, the symptoms can be very difficult to deal
with. Since many manifest in a similar fashion to other illnesses,
it can be very tough to sort out what's a panic attack and what
is another condition. If the severity is great, attacks can force
a person to miss work or school or even retreat from society
entirely.
The prime symptoms of an attack
include chest pains, heart palpitations, shortness of breath,
a feeling of dizziness, abdominal pains and a closed-in feeling.
When these symptoms recur on a regular basis or semi-regular
basis, often without warning, this might be a full-fledged disorder
and reason to seek medical advice.
Anxiety disorder is a little bit
different. This involves nagging thoughts and stress about routine
events. When they last for more than six months, this is considered
an actual disorder, which most likely requires medical attention.
As it is with panic disorder, anxiety disorder also comes with
some very real physical symptoms. These include extreme fatigue,
tremors, muscle tension, severe headaches and even nausea.
Dealing with anxiety related disorders
isn't something that should be done alone. There are viable options
for working through the issues that cause it and medications
that can lessen the symptoms. Many, many people suffer from anxiety
attacks and don't seek help, choosing instead to go it alone.
Considering the troublesome nature
of the symptoms for both anxiety and panic disorders, it's not
a good idea to try and tough it out. Since help is available
and these symptoms can put a stranglehold on every day life,
it just makes sense to take the bull by the horns and try to
work through the issues.
Jessica Deets has researched medical
information and writes articles of interest for the general public.
This article is not meant to replace medical advice. You can
find more news and information about anxiety and cures at http://www.anxietyrelievers.com
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