Anxiety Attacks
November 9th, 2008 Posted in Anxiety and DepressionIf you have ever experienced an panic or anxiety attacks, then you know how quick and intense the sensation of fear can be. It may appear as though they can occur for no real reason, the truth is that they are the body’s inherent response to something that it perceives to be harmful or dangerous.
Usually panic attacks can last anywhere from one – ten minutes at a time. In severe cases, these attacks can happen in cycles. Anxiety attacks cycles can last for various extended amounts of time. These cycles can cause ’anticipation’ anxiety between episodes.
Physical symptoms of anxiety attacks generally include shortness of breath, heart palpitations and sweating. Tingling and numbness in the extremities, dizziness, lightheadedness, headaches and nausea are also commonly experienced. This is the bodies way of fighting back and protecting itself from what it perceives to be a threat to it.
Sudden feelings of fear can often be one of the key triggers for anxiety attacks. When this happens, the body will work to regulate it’s temperature by increasing the heart rate through increased adrenaline and this is what causes the increase in breathing rate. These actions prepare the body for the physical activities of fighting or escaping. Because the anticipated strenuous activity rarely follows the panic attack, these reactions result in physical discomfort.
The increased heart rate is felt as heart palpitations. Rapid breathing (hyperventilation) results in a drop in carbon dioxide levels in the lungs and blood. Once the carbon dioxide levels go down in the blood; numbness, tingling, dizziness and lightheadedness will occur. The adrenaline causes a narrowing of the blood vessels which results in less blood flow to the head. Your main concern should be learning to breathe properly when an anxiety attack occurs and take steps to control your panic attacks, you owe it to yourself to investigate further and get to the root of the problem, it’s worth it!