Anxiety Physical Symptoms

With the number of people suffering from anxiety attacks in the millions, it seems this problem is more common than you originally thought.  If you feel you may have had anxiety attacks yourself but you are not really sure, read on to see if any of these anxiety physical symptoms sound all too familiar.

First off, keep in mind that you may not experience all the anxiety physical symptoms we mention below. The following are the most common anxiety attack symptoms:

* tight feeling in the chest
* increased heart rate
* hot flushed feeling
* excessive sweating or clamminess
* shortness of breath
* hyperventilating
* nausea
* muscle tension
* dizziness
* terror
* fear of impending doom

For many people, the first time they experience any of the anxiety physical symptoms we mention they feel like they’re having a heart attack or are dying.

They are rushed to the hospital only to find that their heart is fine and the doctors can’t find anything physically wrong. If the idea of it being an anxiety attack is never brought up, they’re left feeling that something is wrong with them and they begin to visit different medical doctors trying to determine what it is.

Anxiety physical symptoms

Anxiety attacks occur when the “fight or flight” adrenaline goes into overdrive. Your body believes that it is about to be attacked and brings forth all the responses that would go along with a seriously dangerous situation these are the physical symptoms that you experience during an anxiety attack.

Most of the time the event at hand does not warrant this behavior.  Yes, you know your fear is way out of proportion but you are unable to stop it.  You can say to yourself, “This is silly, I’m just going to drive on this freeway for 5 miles as I’ve done many times in the past” but the anxiety physical symptoms will carry on.

Even scarier is realizing that these anxiety attacks can happen at any time. Some people wake up in the middle of the night with them or have them occur when doing something as benign as watching TV.

It is commonly believed that anxiety attacks can be triggered by any of the following:

* stress, situational or long-term
* hormones
* post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
* possibly excessive sugar or caffeine

The worst part is anticipating or worrying that you will have another anxiety attack. In fact, the worry that you may have an anxiety attack will sometimes be enough to spark the anxiety physical symptoms that you were so worried about.

Added to that it seems each episode is burned into your brain and you feel if you’re in the same situation or location, you will surely have another episode. Because of this you start avoiding these situations or locations.  But avoidance behavior is not the answer.

If the description of these anxiety physical symptoms ring true for you, seek answers. You don’t have to continue to suffer from anxiety attacks, there is treatment available.

The anxiety physical symptoms that you are experiencing show it is real and not something to be taken lightly, so seek help.