People ask me all the time; what does an anxiety attack feel like and I tell them that they are different for almost everyone. Some people will tell you that they thought they were going to die; they thought they were having a heart attack. Some will say that they were sick to their stomach and shaking all over, they were nauseous and throwing up. Others complain about not being able to breathe because it hurt so badly. There are many symptoms and signs of anxiety attacks and if you ask, what does an anxiety attack feel like, be prepared for many different answers.
Having said that, how can you know if you’re having an attack? Really though; exactly what does an anxiety attack feel like? Here are 4 common signs that effect just about everyone:
1. A Racing Heart
One of the sure fire signs is that your heart starts racing for no apparent reason. You will notice that your heart is beating faster and faster and you can’t seem to figure out why it is happening. You may have just driving to work, walking to the local store, or just sitting at home when you get the feeling. Your heart suddenly starts to race faster and faster, it may feel like you have been running for a long time. Also you will probably notice that your breathing will increase as well as a response to the anxiety attack.
2. You May Get Dizzy and Feel Numb
Once you have been into your attack for a while you may start feeling a bit of dizziness coming on. You may also start to feel a tingling or numbness in your arms, neck, fingers, or chest. This may be caused by the way you have been breathing; hyperventilation may be the reason but the causes for these effects are very complicated.
3. You May Have Very Negative Thoughts and Feel Somewhat Out of Control
As if having all these physical symptoms wasn’t bad enough; they have been known to intensify negative thoughts as well. These negative thoughts, which may include the feelings of losing control, can be very scary. You may even think that the world may be closing around you or that you are going crazy, or even dying. These thoughts can become so intense that you may feel like just giving up and want to just curl up in a ball and die.
4. They Usually Arrive Without Warning
Most times these attacks will come on without any warning at all. That is one of the scariest things about them. Because of the lack of forewarning, people who have had anxiety attacks spend a lot of time worrying about when the next one will strike. This worrying and wondering can itself bring on another attack, and start a viscous circle of worry and attacks.
I hope that I did not scare you too much with these 4 common signs but when you ask the question; what does an anxiety attack feel like, it is almost guaranteed that one of those signs will be part of the answer. Don’t give up hope though, there is help out there. There are many things that you can do, yourself, that can help to relieve your symptoms. There are many programs out there to help you understand what happens to you during an attack and what to do when they strike. Hopefully the next time someone asks you, what does an anxiety attack feel like? You will be able to tell then what it used to be like for you.
Article Directory : http://www.articlecube.com
