What is an Anxiety Attack?
Anxiety attacks are defined as the sudden, overwhelming feeling of intense anxiety. This anxiety is so severe that it often results in a person's inability to function properly for a short period of time. If a certain stressful situation causes you to tremble uncontrollably, hyperventilate, sweat profusely, freeze up in fear and/or go into hysterics, then you are likely experiencing an anxiety attack. Usually, they manifest as part of a larger anxiety disorder or panic disorder.Anxiety Attack Stress Symptoms
The overall feeling of discomfort and fear is a culmination of many different symptoms. Most of these symptoms occur as a result of increased adrenaline in your blood system. The most common symptoms felt during an anxiety attack include:- Heart palpitations
- Difficulty breathing
- Shaking
- Stomach discomfort
- Blurry vision
- Chest pain
- Difficulty swallowing
- Numbness in the arms and legs
The Science Behind Anxiety Attacks
Anxiety attacks are directly related to an almond-sized cluster of neurons in the brain called the amygdala. The amygdala serves largely as your center for emotions. In relation to anxiety, the amygdala is what regulates your response to stress and anxiety. When functioning properly, the amygdala is designed to increase adrenaline flow to improve reaction time and focus. However, when bombarded with long-term anxiety, the amygdala has trouble coping with stress. Over time, it readjusts to recurring stresses by overreacting and delivering higher-than-normal levels of anxiety response. This is what causes anxiety attacks.How to Stop Anxiety Attacks
You'll be glad to hear that anxiety attacks are highly treatable. Because panic attacks are largely related to an improper response to stress, those who undergo stress management techniques typically see their anxiety attacks subside within a matter days or weeks. We all undergo periods of intense stress that can ultimately lead to anxiety attacks. Understanding how to deal with that stress in a healthy way is the key to eliminating anxiety attacks from your life.Identifying specific situations or locations that cause anxiety can be another helpful way to confront anxiety attacks. Oftentimes, discussing fears and the motivations behind the anxiety with a psychologist may also be beneficial.
