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Get to Know Anxiety and Panic
Ever experienced one or more of these feelings, some of which
have become habits that are hard to beat?
1. A feeling that you might have forgotten to turn off an
appliance before leaving the house. 2. A feeling that you might
have left something behind on the last place you've been. 3. The
bothersome thought that you might have annoyed someone whom is
the least person you want to displease.
These feelings can bring about a panic attack or anxiety state
in a person. All of us have experienced low level anxiety one
way or the other,such as a delay in plane departure times etc.
These experiences make us all familiar with what anxiety is.
There could be some facts about anxiety we may not be familiar
or aware of.
Simply put,an anxiety state is the feeling of uneasiness,
discomfort, or fear of what may eventually happen resulting from
perceived, real, or imagined threat or condition. Panic attacks,
on the other hand, are actually a heightened form of anxiety
disorder.
Two distinct symptoms become obvious during a panic or anxiety
attack: physical and emotional. Physical Symptoms include: *
Difficulty in breathing * Loss of energy or fatigue * Cold or
sweaty hands * Shaking or trembling body parts * Rapid heartbeat
* Restlessness * Body pains or aches * Insomnia
Emotional Symptoms include: * Irritability * Excessive worrying
or fear * Inability to focus on the task at hand * Frequent
feelings of sadness * Feeling edgy * Disturbed composure
Given the choice, we would rather avoid facing an impending
threat or undesirable situation we foresee. However, if we are
often left with no other option but to face the circumstances.
Just the thought of speaking in front of an audience may bring
about anxiety. The worst scenario that could happen is getting
tongue-tied and this could bring about a panic attack. It's a
mixed feeling of positive and slightly negative anxiety. Before
the speech, nervousness engulfs the speaker. After the speech,
the feeling of relief is immediate.
However, panic attack is a more serious concern. It can
sometimes result to blurred vision, dizziness, and a tight chest
that leads to difficulty in breathing. One might misinterpret
this as a stroke.
The thought of having a stroke might make the anxiety-prone
person think that he has a life threatening condition; thereby
aggravating the situation.The feeling of anxiety is actually a
defensive inherent feeling that protects us from possible
danger. It's a protective shield or response that does not harm
us physically.
What Occurs During a Panic Attack
What we usually perceive as a possible threat or danger brought
about by a panic attack actually starts from the brain. From the
brain, signals are sent to the nervous system of our body. It is
the nervous system that is responsible in preparing our body to
face or to escape the threat.
It is also responsible in returning our body to its original
state of equilibrium or tranquility once the threat has gone
away or has subsided.In layman terms, there is this independent
region of the nervous system responsible for the rise and fall
of our nervous feeling.
This rise in feeling is responsible in preparing our body to
face or to flee the danger. The fall in feeling or subsiding
feeling works to restore balance and equilibrium, bringing our
body back to its normal state.
In a situation where you feel stressed, the rising feel goes to
work. After the speech, the subsiding feel is responsible for
the body's equilibrium. The rising feel is the controversial
section of the nervous system which starts the anxiety (or
possibly panic attack), while the subsiding feel is the one that
brings our body to its original comfortable state.
You might ask: "Exactly what part of our body is activated
during a panic attack?" In medical terms, just above the kidney
are the adrenal glands that release adrenaline (a hormone) when
we are in a state of anxiety. The adrenaline is responsible in
keeping our anxiety going.
Remember that anxiety within controllable levels is here to
protect and not to harm, which is why a continued anxious
feeling can be beneficial to the body. Once the excitement is
done with, the subsiding feel takes over to return our body to
relaxed and non stressed mode.
What can we do to control anxiety to a tolerable level? We can
engage in some coping techniques or strategies to diffuse or
control anxiety. Coping techniques are actually a means of
activating the subsiding feel even before the perceived danger
is over.
Whether we will it or not, this feeling will be called into
action at one point or another as the body cannot continue to
stay in an ever increasing state of anxiety. To sum up what we
have discussed so far, anxiety or panic attacks are actually
products of our mind; and to a certain extent, they are due to
body chemistry.
For more related information visit:
http://www.AnxietyAttacksCure.com - a site that offers advice
for avoiding, coping with anxiety and panic attacks. Get
professional knowledge on dealing with symptoms, drug side
effects and improving your life!
About the author:
The author has worked in the healthcare sector for 15+ years
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