Anxiety Attack Symptoms & General Anxiety Disorder Symptoms

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Anxiety Attack Symptoms

Will you recognize a panic attack if it strikes you out of the blue? Chances are you won't know what's happening. Chest tightness and palpitations are the anxiety attack symptoms to become manifest first, but if experienced separately without any other manifestation they could indicate heart disease. Throat dryness, accelerated sweating, shortness of breath and hyperventilation as well as a feeling of suffocation often accompany the pounding of the heart. Some people also experience dizziness, faintness, jiggling and trembling in the limbs together with an incredible panic that death is just around the corner and coming.

The severity of the anxiety attack symptoms is incredible and explained by the swift reaction of the central nervous system to the imminence of danger. There is normally a trigger that unleashes the entire array of feelings and this could be a real-life situation or an internal psychological factor that is apparent or hidden to the sufferer himself/herself. Under the influence of this intense stimulation, the the first to react is the cardiovascular system, starting a first wave of anxiety attack symptoms. The heart pumps blood towards the extremities preparing the body for running or for fighting; plus, the blood vessels get constricted in less used body parts such as the skin.

This would explain one of the minor anxiety attack symptoms: paleness. It is this same blood vessel constriction that causes mouth dryness as well, because the reaction is experienced at the level of the mouth, kidneys and digestive system too. The body needs to get cooled down, and therefore you'll sweat a lot when suffering from a panic attack. Plus, the nervous system sends the unload message to the digestive track which may result in other anxiety attack symptoms such as upset stomach or rapid bowel movement.

All the rest of the anxiety attack symptoms are characterized as normal body reactions when sensing danger. The need for superior oxygenation levels is manifest in the accelerated breath or breath shortness. More air would also allow you to scream louder. Then, the brain secrets endorphins that represent the most intense natural pain reliever, which means that the body gets prepared for an intense physical effort that should not be hindered by sore joints. The perception system sharpens, the pupils get dilated to enhance vision and more energy is burned, all for the purpose of facing the danger that causes fear. Consequently, the anxiety attack symptoms represent the normal preparations of the body when confronted with a frightening, or even life and death situation.

General Anxiety Disorder Symptoms 

Anxiety and worries are a common part of daily life: health issues, emotional problems, work difficulties, money, exams and so on, give one plenty of subjects to think of. The difference between normal anxiety and general anxiety disorder symptoms results from the frequency and the disruptive nature of the worries. It is the intensity with which problems affect you, keeping the mind extremely busy at a much higher than normal level. Then, doctors speak of GAD or generalized anxiety disorder and there are two types of symptoms specific to this nervous ailment. They include physiological and psychological manifestations of a varying intensity.

The physiological general anxiety disorder symptoms include muscular tension with soreness or aches, insomnia, digestive problems such as abnormal bowel movement or nausea, jumpiness and fatigue. People who suffer from an anxiety disorder will be a lot more restless and they will feel tired without any apparent reason. In fact, the cause of the physical exhaustion comes from the chemical imbalance at the brain level as well as from the improper night rest. Among the psychological general anxiety disorder symptoms we should mention the inability to control thoughts, irritability, the impossibility to relax, concentration problems, fears of all kinds particularly of rejection.

For children and teenagers, general anxiety disorder symptoms have to be recognized by adults because the people in question cannot realize whether their worrying is disproportionate with the situation or not. Besides the symptoms that are common regardless of the patient's age, there are some distinct signs to recognize in children suffering from GAD. Thus, most of them have the 'what if' worry they extend over a situation far in the future. Then, very young patients show great fear of mistakes, excessive self-criticism, intense self-blaming and the constant need for approval and reassurance. Even if you recognize some of these signs in your child's behavior, the diagnosis can only be passed by a professional.

Once the general anxiety disorder symptoms are confirmed by an expert opinion, the next step is to establish a course of action and a treatment. Medication will usually be prescribed if the condition is very intense and the patients have difficulties coping with their worries, but drugs only work for a limited period of time. Their action has to be supported by intense psychotherapy and alternative treatments meant to induce relaxation and teach the patient how to self-soothe. Anyone who suffers from general anxiety disorder symptoms should learn how to deal with them, reducing their intensity and eventually preventing the panic attack from starting.


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