What Happens When You Have an Anxiety Attack

An anxiety attack can feel like a huge wave of fear that comes out of nowhere. Your heart races, you might start to feel faint or dizzy, and you might even feel like you’re having a heart attack. It’s normal to experience some anxiety from time to time, but if you’re feeling this way on a regular basis, it might be time to talk to your doctor. If you want to know what happens when you have an anxiety attack, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog post, we’re going to take a look at what exactly anxiety is, anxiety attack symptoms, and what causes an attack. Let’s get into it.

 

What is an Anxiety Attack?

Anxiety attacks are often described as feeling like you’re going to die or have a heart attack. Others say it feels like they can’t breathe, they’re losing control, or they feel faint or dizzy. The physical symptoms of a panic attack are real and can be very scary. But it’s important to remember that they are not dangerous and they will not last forever.

The physical symptoms are caused by the release of hormones like adrenaline when you’re feeling anxious. These hormones make your heart rate go up and make you breathe faster so that you have more energy to deal with the situation that’s making you anxious. This is often when you can feel the fight or flight response kick on. But these are still just a common symptom of anxiety.

In addition to the physical symptoms, people who are having an anxiety attack often experience emotional symptoms as well. You might feel like you’re in danger or that something terrible is about to happen. You might feel like you’re losing control or going crazy. You might also feel detached from yourself or disconnected from the world around you. These emotional symptoms can be just as distressing as the physical ones, but again, they are not dangerous and they will pass.

 

What Causes Anxiety?

Anxiety is a normal human emotion that we all experience at one time or another. It’s the feeling you get when you’re about to do something scary, like speak in public or go on a first date. Everyone experiences anxiety differently, but some common symptoms include a racing heart, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, and feeling dizzy or lightheaded. While a little bit of anxiety can be helpful (it’s what motivates us to prepare for things), too much anxiety can be debilitating. When someone is constantly feeling anxious, it can interfere with their daily life and make it difficult to function.

There are many different symptoms of panic disorder to focus on. For some people, it may be due to a chemical imbalance in the brain bringing on the main symptom of anxiety. Others may have experienced trauma or other stressful events that have triggered their anxiety. And for some people, there may be no obvious cause at all.

If you’re struggling with anxiety, it’s important to talk to your doctor or a mental health professional. They can help you figure out what’s causing your anxiety and provide you with tools to manage it.

 

What to Do if You Have an Anxiety Attack

If you find yourself having an anxiety attack, there are some things you can do to help ease the symptoms. It’s important to try and recognize when it’s anxiety so that you’re able to take some steps to try and calm yourself down and cool the physical symptoms. These six ideas should help you;
-Breath slowly and deeply through your nose, letting your stomach expand with each breath in
-Focus on something in the room or outside the window and name 5 things you see
-Drink some water or eat a small snack
-Talk to someone who makes you feel calm and relaxed
-Go for a walk outside if possible
-Practice some relaxation techniques like progressive muscle relaxation or visualization

You can also try distraction techniques like listening to music, reading, or playing a game on your phone if nothing else is helping. Just remember that this too shall pass and that there is nothing wrong with seeking professional help if your anxiety is proving to be too much for you to handle on your own.

 

Experiencing an Anxiety Attack and Getting Treatment

Anxiety attacks can happen out of nowhere and they are absolutely terrifying. For some people, an anxiety attack feels like your chest is being squeezed, your heart is racing, and you can’t breathe. As your fears start to take over—whatever the trigger, these common physical anxiety attack symptoms will kick in as we mentioned above. However, this is more of a mental health issue than a physical health one.
Sometimes you will find that unexpected panic attacks and this can throw you off even more. This is usually the time when you can feel like something is physically wrong, but it can just mean that you may need to work out the trigger. This is where options like cognitive behavioral therapy can come in. When you experience intense anxiety or you feel as if you would want to know more about the different types of anxiety disorder, meeting with a mental health expert is your next step.

 

Coping With Anxiety Attacks in Life

So there we have it, you now know what happens when you have an anxiety attack. Anxiety attacks are no fun—but it’s important to remember that they are not dangerous and they will eventually end. If you suffer from anxiety, know that you are not alone and that there are ways to manage your anxiety attacks when they do occur. But if you’re struggling with anxiety, don’t hesitate to reach out for help from a mental health professional. In the meantime, deep breathing, focusing on your surroundings, and distraction techniques can help ease the symptoms of an anxiety attack until it passes.