Those of you who have had an anxiety attack, know what it is and how it feels. You will have experienced the fear of a racing heart and the other stomach churning symptoms that leave you worried for your life. Your doctor and maybe even your friends may have told you that it is ‘all in the mind’ and to ‘pull yourself together’ and then you’ve worried that it is in your head and your losing your mind. For those that haven’t suffered with an anxiety attack, it’s difficult to workout what all the fuss is about. Well let’s take a closer look.
The Symptoms of an Anxiety Attack
There are both mental and physical symptoms of an anxiety attack. Either one can be debilitating. They can last from only a few seconds to a half hour or longer. The average anxiety attack is around half an hour. They can also vary in severity form mild to intense. The physical effects vary from: Feeling dizzy or faint is also common. Click here for more on Anxiety Attack Symptoms
The mental symptoms are just as difficult to deal with. Sufferers report feeling like they’re going to lose their mind, they are losing control, going crazy, or going to die. While it’s unlikely the anxiety attack will cause death it can still be paralyzing.These feelings of panic, fear and dread can leave the victim in a state of shock.
What Causes Anxiety Attacks?
Anxiety attacks can be caused by several things. First, heredity or genetics plays a part. If you have members of your family that have experienced anxiety attacks you may have a greater likelihood of suffering with them also. But those without such connections can also have them. A persons upbringing will have an influence of the risk to an attack. Studies show that those who are raised with a fearful outlook on life and their surroundings are more likely to have this disorder, as are those who have a very passive communication style. Click here to learn more about what are the symptoms of an Anxiety Attack
Other physical disoreders can also have an impact. Those that have obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, hyperthyroidism, hypoglycemia, a vitamin B deficiency, or even labyrinthitis can cause panic or anxiety attacks. Chemicals too can cause anxiety attacks. These include “heavy duty” drugs, like Ritalin, anti-depressants, and all SSRI drugs, but also nicotine, alcohol, and even caffeine.
Finally, if the sufferer has a history of phobias, panic attacks of family bereavement, this is also likely to increase the risk of an anxiety attack.
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