What Are
Anxiety And Panic Attack Symptoms?
Anxiety is a normal human
reaction to a stressful event. We know for example, it's quite
normal to feel anxious when starting a new job, sitting exams,
or speaking in front of an audience for the first time.
But for some people, it can feel like the switch that turns anxiety off has become faulty. The Fight Or Flight Response (FFR),
a primitive automatic physiological response, feels as if it's
activated most of the time. It's like living in a state of
hyper-alertness and readiness to cope with a perceived threat.
It is not uncommon for people to be unaware of just how high
their anxiety level is until it manifests in physical symptoms.
The sudden onset of anxiety symptoms is called a
panic attack.
A situation does not have to be inherently dangerous or an
actual threat to safety to trigger this response. It's more to
do with perception or interpretation of a situation. The
sound of scratching on a window at night can trigger panic if
it's perceived that a burglar is trying to break in. In
the same way, a person might panic from having chest pains if
they perceive the pain as a sign of an impending heart attack.
Addressing skewed perceptions about a person's symptoms is a
major element in the recovery process.
Anxiety Symptoms Include:
Racing, pounding or missed heart beats,
chest pain or tightness, feeling dizzy or lightheaded,
sweating, nausea and/or vomiting, difficulties breathing,
head pain or pressure, diarrhea, flushing or blushing,
hyperventilation, tightness in the throat, shaking or
trembling, depersonalisation (feeling as if you are out of
your body), derealisation (feeling as if you or your
surroundings are unreal).
The clearest evidence that anxiety has progressed from that
which is normal is the impact on everyday life. If anxiety
starts to prevent you from enjoying simple pleasures, or if
avoidance behaviour interferes with work or personal
relationships, it's time to seek help.
|
