How to recognize anxiety and panic attack symptoms

Those who suffer from anxiety and panic attacks on a regular basis will have no doubt in recognizing the symptoms associated with an anxiety or panic attack. They will have suffered them day in and day out sometimes continually while others come in waves, for these unfortunate people there can be no mistake. However, for those who often wonder if they could be suffering symptoms of a panic or anxiety attack or if they do indeed have an illness here is a guide to what people who suffer feel.

Signs and symptoms of a panic attack

The symptoms of a panic attack or anxiety attack are numerous; they range from feeling ill, faint, some people think they are going to stop breathing as they find difficulty in getting enough air into the lungs. They might also feel a choking feeling in their throat or that something is stuck in their throat, they have difficulty in swallowing. A sudden hot flash might come across them and their face might feel as though it is burning, they might also start to sweat heavily and this is very often mistaken as the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. There also might be a numbness or tingling felt in the body, this is especially so in the hands and fingers although the numbness can also be felt throughout the body. You may feel a very strange feeling of dread – what you are afraid of you may not even know, but you are afraid of something and the terror begins to build quickly and mounts. Eventually you feel as though you can’t take it anymore or that you will just die. You may get a feeling that you just want to get away, although you don’t know where you would go or where you would run.

These are all common signs and symptoms of a person suffering from a panic attack and are perfectly normal for someone that is stressing their mind and body to the total limit. They are however only feelings and thoughts and it is only because you are paying them attention and adding more and more adrenaline to your already stressed body and mind that they are able to develop as they do and make you feel like you do. In short, what you are experiencing is nothing more than you frightening yourself.

When faced with danger these feelings prepare our body to run away from the danger before us. Once the danger has passed then so do the feelings, the feelings stay with us for as long as the danger is present and the gradually dissipate. When you experience a panic attack you are simply frightening yourself and so the signs and symptoms stay with you. The easiest way to deter a panic attack or anxiety attack is to pay no attention to the signs and symptoms. If your hands and face start sweating then let them, if you feel faint then sit down and rest, but don’t worry about it. Just bear in mind that the symptoms are nothing more than your fear – let this fear go and the symptoms will go.

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