What do anxiety attacks feel like?

                Thank you for your question, reader. Experiencing anxiety can have uncomfortable physical sensations, especially for people who have panic attacks. Some physical symptoms can feel so intense that people experience fear as a result. It is important to recognize the symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks to be appropriately addressed and help people realize that they are not in physical danger. Generally, when people use the word “anxiety attack,” they are referring to is medically diagnosed as a Panic Attack. Generalized Anxiety can all have physical symptoms, but this condition is not typically experienced in short bursts. Instead, it is more pervasive and related to uncontrolled worry about routine events.

                According to the manual used to diagnose all mental health conditions, the DSM-V, Generalized Anxiety Disorder can cause symptoms of:

• Edginess or restlessness
• Fatigue
• Feeling as though the mind goes blank or loses concentration
• Increased muscle aches or soreness

These symptoms generally do not come and go but remain fairly stable over a period of time.

The DSM-V states that during a Panic Attack, people can experience:

• Heart palpitations, pounding heart, or faster heart rate
• Increased sweating
• Trembling or shaking
• Shortness of breath or feeling like one cannot breathe
• Feelings of choking
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Nausea or other stomach distress
• Feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
• Chills or heat sensations
• Numbness or tingling sensations
• Feelings or leaving reality or becoming detached from oneself
• Feeling fear about losing control, going crazy, or dying

A panic attack usually comes on and subsides quickly but can be a very stressful experience, as one might guess from reading the symptom list above. People who have experienced a panic attack may enter a fear feedback loop, as the experience of panic is so uncomfortable, they begin to fear having another episode. This can lead to Panic Disorder and the avoidance of normal activities of life.

                It is important to seek help from a mental health professional if you are experiencing Generalized Anxiety or Panic, as there are many ways to learn how to manage and decrease anxiety. It is also important to rule out any underlying medical conditions that could be causing the physical symptoms above if you have them.