Anxiety attacks can occur without warning and can be caused by an obvious trigger - such as an upcoming meeting or work presentation, or they can occur out of nowhere. Anxiety attacks come with the feeling of overwhelming fear and with several severe physical symptoms that can also feel overwhelming.
Recognizing the symptoms of an anxiety attack and then managing it is one of the most effective ways of treating anxiety. This post will discuss the common anxiety attack symptoms and explain how to recognize them during an anxiety attack.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a part of living in the world. It is the body’s natural protective response to dangers or threats and triggers your body’s flight or fight response. When you start to experience anxiety in circumstances that are not dangerous, or when anxiety gets excessive or in the way of you living your life, it may be an anxiety disorder.
Here are some of the most commons signs of general anxiety:
- Feelings of apprehension or dread.
- Watching for signs of danger.
- Anticipating the worst.
- Trouble concentrating.
- Feeling tense and jumpy.
- Irritability.
- Feeling like your mind’s gone blank.
While everyone feels nervous or anxious at times in their life, if the feeling of fear and anxiety is constant or interfering with how you live your life, it may be time to get help. Most anxiety is very treatable, and people can learn to manage their anxiety.
What is an Anxiety Attack?
Anxiety attacks are an episode of overwhelming anxiety or fear. They can feel uncontrollable and very intense, so that an individual may feel they are having a heart attack or like they are going to die. They often occur suddenly, though the person may also experience a growing feeling of anxiety over time.
Anxiety attacks last for short periods, usually around ten minutes but can be very severe and cause debilitating feelings of fear and terror. Attacks often occur after a stressful situation or in anticipation of one, but they can also come unexpectedly.
Symptoms of an Anxiety Attack
Learning how to recognize anxiety attacks can help you learn to manage your anxiety. Common symptoms include:
- Pounding heart or chest pain
- Sweating or chills
- Headache.
- Stomach upset.
- Dizziness.
- Frequent urination or diarrhea.
- Shortness of breath or feeling like you are going to pass out.
- Muscle tension or twitches.
- Shaking or trembling.
- Insomnia.
- Feeling detached or unreal.
How to Manage Anxiety Attacks
Recognizing the symptoms of an anxiety attack is the first step in quickly reacting and taking proper actions to stop or minimize the attack. Once you know you are experiencing an anxiety attack (and not really dying - though it may feel like that), you can retrain your brain.
Other ways of managing anxiety include:
Relaxation: Take time to destress in your life. Go for a relaxing walk, have a massage, or listen to music to help relax and destress, or whatever relaxation techniques work best for you.
Exercise: Regular exercise is another excellent way to relieve stress and help your body deal with anxiety.
Get A Good Amount of Sleep: Regular sleep helps your brain and body manage stress hormones and can help your brain manage in times of anxiety.
Deep Breathing: Deep breathing tells your brain that you are not in a fight or flight situation and helps slow down your heart rate and calm your stress. Products like the Beam anxiety necklace help users remember to slow down and breathe and focus on their breath instead of their anxiety.
If you have questions about how the Beam necklace can help reduce and manage your anxiety, take a look at our product page and contact us to order yours today.