An anxiety attack is a time period whereby a person is suddenly, sometimes without warning, delitated by an extreme feeling of distress or fear. For the sufferer it can be a very terrifying experience, even though they are totally unaware that their symptoms are part of the body’s natural mechanism called ‘fight-or-flight’.

The most usual symptoms suffered during an anxiety attack include breathing problems, trembling, palpitations of the heart, chest pains, nausea, sweating, vertigo, dizziness, hyperventilation, choking feelings, physical tingling, feeling of being smothered and dream state sensations.  As the attack progresses adrenalin is released in large quantities into the person’s blood and for some people it seems as if they are about to die, going crazy or may be having a potential heart attack.  However, continued attacks that come without warning may be symptomatic of a panic disorder as well as other anxiety conditions.  People who suffer with phobias will also experience these attacks.

Thankfully, though there are many causes for anxiety attacks, such a disorder is treatable with varied therapies and medications.  Interestingly enough, doctors prefer to run a series of tests for things like hypoglycemia, excessive caffeine/nicotine use and hyperthyroidism before recommending any treatments because these conditions can provoke and trigger anxiety attacks.

As a person becomes accustomed to anxiety attacks, that person learns to overcompensate for any minor change in their bodily reactions.  As a result they end up with more anxiety attacks because the body’s nervous system is quickly activated and produces more adrenaline than normal. 

The difference between an anxiety attack and other types of anxiety disorders is in that it is sudden and random.  However, unlike other anxiety disorders, an anxiety attack is not a mental illness, but a chemical reaction combined with physical symptoms as a result of a shock or fear.  It is estimated that one in sixty people across the US have suffered from an anxiety attack at some point in their lives.  These people may never have had another one again, but once they had one they are now predisposition to have further ones.

Anxiety attacks can last anywhere from one to ten minutes.  However, there have been reports of these attacks last even up to half a day in length.  The most severe form can come in waves, lasting hours and ending with the intense need to sleep from exhaustion.  In rare cases, anxiety attacks can have little space in between them and then become an attack that appears to last days.

The types of people that experience these attacks are usually exposed to some sort of trigger mechanism.  These can be as simple as exercise, lack of control, arguments, and fears of failing, stress and pain.  Attacks caused by hypoglycemia result from insufficient blood sugars, so the body is triggering off its own warning signals by doing so.

Generally speaking, anxiety attacks are found in families.  Though no genetic links have yet been found, hundreds of years of family medical records for many families have shown clear patterns.  Interestingly, the first line of attacks can come from major events, loss or even the use of specific medications and if not treated, the pattern of behavior can influence and cause anxiety attacks in loved ones and others.

Anxiety attacks are very common, but their underlying causes and the number of times a person gets them can determine whether treatment is needed.  If you experience one of more anxiety type attack during a week then it is high time to consult with your doctor to stop these attacks before they stop you enjoying your life.

Every time we enter a stressful situation we have at some point bordered on having an anxiety attack, but may not have even realized it.  In fact it is a natural instinctive response to stressful circumstances – the ‘fight or flight’ instinct.  Some people can actually benefit from this, which results in better performance or in the case of soldiers, the instinctive knowledge of when to stay and fight and when to retreat.  However, there are those amongst us that find themselves experiencing more that just basic instinctive feelings, but heightened and over exaggerated responses that can become debilitating and interfere in their very lives.  Anxiety attacks can become a terrifying moment in time for the first timer and even worse for those who have battled it for years without getting medical help.

If you have never had the displeasure of suffering an anxiety attack then it can be simply described as an intense feeling of unease or even butterflies in the stomach with a racing heartbeat.  Ever had sweaty hands or the jitters before an interview and felt like you had to get out of there quick? Welcome to anxiety attacks.  It is of course perfectly normal to feel these emotions and levels of anxiety, but when these impose on life, causing the person to believe that they are dying then something is wrong.

Across the Western world it is considered to be 1 in 10 that will experience this disruptive attack at some time during their lifetime.  Even more of those will have repeated episodes.  However, anxiety attacks become abnormal when they include other psychiatric illnesses or the following:

·         Anxiety attacks occur even when nothing stressful has or is happening

·         Anxiety attacks debilitate normal daily activities, including work and the ability to socialize

·         Anxiety attacks become severe, unbearable and last more than one day

In fact these symptoms can be set off when electrical messages from the brain go to varied parts of the body, readying it for ‘fight or flight with no just cause or reason.  The lungs and the heart begin to react to this by pumping blood and oxygen throughout the body to enable it to respond faster and the brain releases large doses of adrenaline, an energy booster and stimulant to let the body take on battle speed or marathon speed.

Unfortunately, the following symptoms occur as a result of this pumping, oxygenation and battle/marathon speed increase:

·         Diarrhea

·         Abdominal pains/discomfort.

·         Rapid/increased/irregular heartbeat/palpitations

·         Chest pain and tightening

·         Inability to breath in or out properly

·         Dizziness

·         Inability to swallow properly

·         Dry mouth

·         Frequent urination

·         Insomnia

·         Irritability

·         Anger

·         Lack of concentration

·         Inability to maintain self-control

·         Feeling of being unreal

·         Fear of going crazy

If the anxiety is sufficient to be severe, the symptoms will come in waves and gradually increase, peaking at anywhere from 10 minutes to 3 days.  These severe symptoms include:

·         Increasing tension

·         Chest pains/discomfort/palpitations

·         Quickening heartbeat

·         Tachycardia

·         Sweating

·         Chills

·         Hot flushes

·         Shaking

·         Choking/smothering feelings

·         Increased sensation of the inability to breath

·         Nausea

·         Butterflies in the stomach

·         Abdominal discomfort or distress

·         Dizziness

·         Light headed feelings

·         Fainting

·         Depersonalization

·         Thinking that one is dying

·         Feeling of being crazy

·         Complete loss of personal self-control

·         Feeling of dying, loss of control or “going crazy”

It is critical to note that some of these symptoms may also be signs of heart attacks and should be dealt with immediately by a doctor.  Unfortunately without a medical opinion it is impossible to distinguish between the two.

Stressful situations are normal for everyone, even mild anxiety attack type symptoms, but when they become debilitating or undermine our ability to live our lives, then there is a problem.  When the symptoms go beyond normal levels and get out of control, lasting a day or more, it is important to get help.  Again anxiety attacks are not pleasant experiences when out of control, but they can be cured with help and with specified treatments as prescribed by a knowledgeable doctor.

There are different types of anxiety attacks; each one is attributed to a specific anxiety disorder.  These include such disorders as generalized anxiety disorder or GAD, obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD, panic disorder/panic attacks, phobias, separation anxiety and social phobia/anxiety.

Anxiety attacks triggered off when suffering from GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) can be due to constant fears and worries about daily activities or continued feelings that a bad event may occur.  This disorder can trigger off the worst of anxiety attacks because the patient is suffering from worry and fear almost all the time, while dealing with physical afflictions like fatigue, upset stomachs and headaches.

Attacks triggered off when suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) can be due to the impossibility to control or stop behaviors or thoughts.  These thoughts become stressful to the point of obsession, so much so that the constant concerns cause anxiety attacks or not acting to prevent something can also cause an attack.

When a patient is suffering from panic disorder, the subsequent anxiety attacks can be triggered again and again by attacks lasting as long as thirty plus minutes, and may be accompanied with or without agoraphobia ( fear of being stuck somewhere where getting assistance or escaping would be hard during an anxiety attack).  Most people in this situation will avoid enclosed spaces or public places.

A patient that is suffering from some form of phobia or extreme fear of something may go to extraordinary measures to avoid situations and things that can invoke their fears.  However, the anxiety from this and the situation they are trying to avoid, if they cannot avoid it, may trigger of anxiety attacks fuelled by irrational fears that to them in reality pose no real danger, but in their minds can cause extreme shock.

Anxiety attacks can become a part of separation anxiety and are most especially experienced by children when separated from their parents or far from home.  It is quite commonly seen in the playground with young children who are starting school for the first time – a child in what appears to be hysterical floods of tears and gasping.  However, this type of anxiety attack should disappear as the child gets older and used to the process of separation and return.  If not, the child could be suffering from separation anxiety disorder.

Anxiety attacks are most commonly found with social anxiety and social phobia.  An attack can easily be triggered by an intense fear of public humiliation, embarrassment, ridicule and negativity from other people, especially those they don’t even know.  The attacks may vary in length and even be the result of an unnatural level of shyness.  In the case where severe anxiety attacks may occur, patients usually avoid situations and any type of socialization possible, even isolating themselves from others over long periods of time.  The milder form of this can be classified as stage fright and the attacks from these can vary according to the trauma felt by the patient.

Though anxiety attacks vary in their severity, length and intensity, they are triggered by certain fears, concerns, stresses and other anxieties attributed usually to an anxiety disorder.  In some cases the anxiety attacks are just simply so mild that most people do not even recognize it as a problem, just a normal reaction to a stressful situation.  In other cases the attacks are so severe that they can last for days, only alleviated by the wave like way they decrease and then increase each time with more intensity as they build to a crescendo near the end of the attacks.  In cases that are severe it becomes necessary for the patient to have medical intervention – they have stopped functioning in their everyday lives, are unable to enjoy life, cannot tolerate social interactions and live in constant fear without good justification. 

Whether you suffer from mild or more intense anxiety attacks, it is very important to seek medical advice.  Anxiety attacks that go beyond the basic sweaty palms before a job interview, triggered by something unknown are not normal.  They are scary, almost physically painful, can make you feel physically nauseated and your heart is pumping so hard and fast that your fears increase of your brain releasing more adrenaline.  This is a spiraling vicious circle that leads to more and more suffering.  Tell someone you know now and get medical help.

There are many other strategies to overcome anxiety attacks in patients.  One of the alternative methods is the use of audio therapy.  Audio therapy was designed to help sufferers understand their attacks, the varied treatments, assess the degree of the suffering/personal history, the time period needed to heal and what strategies they can use personally to defeat it.

According to audio therapists, this treatment strategy does work for a lot of people with mild to medium severity level anxiety attacks.  It has proven that it is possible to rewire the way one thinks, preserves things and situations, and how one responds to any given social situation or experience.  This therapy has also been shown to make a marked difference in the quality of life that each sufferer has by helping them to overcome their anxieties and enjoy life to its fullest without fears of embarrassment or ridicule as a result of their actions, words, thoughts or how they appear to others.

Audio therapy strategies employ the use of worksheets, instruction booklets, physiological diagrams of the brain, and what it looks like when a patient changes their thoughts or chemical/electrical pathways inside their brain.  In fact, each step of the therapy teaches patients:

·         Calming techniques for socialization situations

·         Self-control techniques for socialization situations

·         Recognition of negative thought techniques

·         Negative thought interception techniques

·         Negative thought revaluation techniques to create more positive thought patterns

·         How to use positive reinforcement techniques and statements to lower the occurrences of irrational and negative anxiety feelings

·         Strategies to eliminate irrational and negative anxiety feelings through positive statements

·         How to combat the recurring negative thought patterns that have become habitual in anxiety attacks

·         The types of calming and relaxation methods used to defeat anxiety and how they work in all social and non-social situations

·         The reasons we need to stop negative thought patterns that lead to anxiety attacks and how this has resulted in life as we know it

·         How gentle action versus quick and sudden actions to combat anxiety attacks works

·         How to avoid anticipatory doubts, concerns, uncertainty and worry that cause us to achieve actions that trigger anxiety attacks

·         How to analyze ourselves personally, the world we live in, what thoughts and experiences have led us to the point of anxiety and how we can become  realistic and rational by using actions that will not be considered unfriendly or irrational by others

·         How to use positive statements during anxiety attacks and their affects in deflating the emotional experience

·         How the process of treatment strategies for anxiety attacks is done in a series of steps, a few forward and sometimes a couple backwards, but then a few more forward

·         How to develop a more realistic view of ourselves and the world around us

·         How to use our current beliefs and perceptions to change and eliminate anxiety attacks

·         How to stop exaggerating our fears

·         How to change how others view us in a realistic and self-confident fashion

·         How to accept ourselves for who and what we really are irregardless of what others may think

·         How to switch from neutralized negative thoughts to positive thoughts and actions

·         How to socialize with others through activities and speech

·         How to converse with new people in a comfortable fashion

·         How to distinguish between truthful and false emotions and thoughts

·         How to put worry out of our minds and move into a more productive and happy lifestyle

·         How our brains were programmed into getting anxiety attacks and how we can use the same techniques to reverse the process

·         How to think and act positively, taking even the most negative situation and turning into something positive

There are many forms of strategies that can help anyone overcome anxiety attacks, but audio therapy has proven to be the most effective for most people.  In fact, audio therapy is not unique and definitely not used for just treating negative thought processes.  It has been used widely even by people to achieve more in their lives, including top athletes, academics and many other successful people.  Fear of failure and embarrassment are normal to a certain degree, but when it controls everyday life, it has then worsens into sudden and unprovoked anxiety attacks and needs to be treated by a medical professional.

According to medical professionals, the best strategies for overcoming anxiety attacks include three possible treatments.  These treatments include cognitive group behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and possible medication.

A psychologist or psychiatrist will decide which strategy is best for each patient in order to help the patient overcome their type of anxiety attacks.  They first assess the severity of the symptoms that the patient is getting, the level of affect that anxiety attacks is having on the patient/patient’s life, and the ability of the patient to recover from their affliction.

Cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) is one of the first treatments that will be attempted to resolve anxiety attacks.  It is a form of psychotherapy that has been in use for varied mental illnesses and disorders for many decades.  It works by analyzing the roots of fears experienced by the person getting the attacks.

The first strategic step in CBT is to determine the negative fears that are causing the patient’s anxiety.  These are then categorized and assist the therapist in teaching the patient ways of controlling these fears, correcting the patient’s perceptions which result in these fears and then help them to restructure their thought patterns to avoid these unreasonable thoughts.

The strategies for treating anxiety attacks with cognitive behavioral treatment involve varied methods such as attribution, teaching the patient the difference between irrational/rational thoughts, and helping the patient to overcome past experiences that may have contributed to their irrational thoughts/fears.  When it comes to children, psychiatrists can get to the root cause or trauma and help them to understand the event, learn to deal with what happened and cope with moving forward in life with a new positive approach and attitude versus simply forgetting what happened.

Another strategy that medical practitioners find useful is CGBT (cognitive group behavioral therapy).  It is similar to CBT in its strategy for dealing with anxiety attacks, but in a group setting with other people who are suffering the same disorder and one or more group therapists.  The aim of this strategy is to not only overcome the negative thought/fear processes attributed to anxiety attacks, but allow the patients to realize that they are not alone in what they suffer and have support from people who understand what it really feels like.

There are other important strategies for overcoming anxiety attacks that group therapy undertakes.  These include:

·         Group discussions of each individuals symptoms, perceptions, experiences and traumas

·         The use of the group to show their support for individual anxiety attacks by encouraging the changes in thought/fear patterns and perceptions.

·         The use of the group on outings to overcome anxiety attacks with people that each member feels can be trusted to not judge them or ridicule them, helping each member to avoid perceived embarrassment and the need to become isolated.

·         The use of the group on outings to overcome anxiety attacks with people that each member feels can be trusted to help individual sufferers realize that social interaction with new people does not have to be fearful or even judgmental or embarrassing.

·         The use of the group in varied situations in helping each individual anxiety attacks sufferer to no longer having the need to put on appearances in how they look, behave, talk or in regards to their abilities to lessen the likelihood of misinterpreted judgments by others.

·         The use of the group in varied situations to support individual sufferers in learning that they no longer need to feel embarrassment or guilt in social situations.

·         Group discussions to help each individual sufferer in overcoming anger resulting from previous situations or traumas.

·         Group discussions to assist each individual sufferer in overcoming the need to please everyone, be a perfectionist, procrastinate, avoid social interactions and in becoming a realistic individual with self-confidence and self-esteem.

·         Group discussions to assist each individual sufferer in dealing with times when social interaction does result in judgment or embarrassment by others.

These strategies for overcoming anxiety attacks have proven to be very useful in helping patients deal with their suffering.  Studies have shown that both forms of cognitive behavioral therapies, CBT and CGBT, do succeed and allow each patient to move forward and enjoy normal, productive, socially interactive and happy lives.  Of course, there are a few cases were the affects of the anxiety attacks are so deep rooted that the individual needs to combine these therapies with medication.  However, if you do sufferer anxiety attacks, getting guidance from your doctor is the first best step to curing your pains, fears and negative thoughts.

Causes of Anxiety Attacks

Anxiety attacks can be caused a multitude of things including stressors, financial problems, relationship problems, bereavement, medical conditions and medication. However, as with any medical condition, there is usually more than one cause, some of which can be interrelated.

When a doctor is trying to determine the causes of a patient’s anxiety attacks, he will assess environmental issues, traits in the person’s personality, the patient’s brain chemistry, any past traumas and the family medical history. Firstly, the environmental issues may include poverty, childhood/parental separation, overly strict parents, overly critical parents, excessive family conflicts, fearful parents, anxious parents and a lacking support system.

Secondly, personality traits can include a feeling of lack of power, seeing the world as threatening, general low self-esteem/confidence and the inability to cope with everyday things. Thirdly, brain chemistry can include neurotransmitter imbalances (serotonin, epinephrine, GABA, etc.) and abnormal levels of cortisol (stress type hormone). Fourthly, family medical history can show a pattern of abuse (substance) and disorders (mood, anxiety, etc.) throughout generations, which shows some genetical disposition towards the anxiety attacks. Fifthly, past traumas can have a marked affect, including childhood events (the most damaging), abuse, natural disasters, crime, and war.

Once the cause has been determined for the anxiety attacks, the doctor will attempt to make a diagnosis. However, if the fifth most common causes are not triggering the anxiety attacks then the doctor will look at these other possibilities:

• Hypoglycemia - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• Thyroid disorders - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• Sleep disorders - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• Adrenal disorders - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• Diabetes - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• Asthma - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• Migraines - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• Epilepsy - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• Certain heart conditions - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• Other psychiatric illnesses - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• Caffeine/other stimulants - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• Drugs - heroin/cocaine/amphetamines - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• Over-the-counter drugs such as anti-inflammatories, cold/cough/decongestants - - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• Steroids (cortisone, prednisone, etc.) - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• Weight loss drugs - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• birth control medicines - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• thyroid medications - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• Inhalers/respiratory medications - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• Herbal products - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• High /low blood pressure medications - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• Alcohol withdrawal - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• Ritalin - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• Adderall - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• Dexedrine - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• benzodiazepines withdrawal - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• ulcers - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• hypertension - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• asthma - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• chronic lung diseases - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• apnea/sleep apnea - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• IBS - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• Chronic headaches - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• Prolapsed of the mitral valve - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions
• Chronic fatigue syndrome - can trigger anxiety attacks under certain medical conditions

As with any condition, anxiety attacks have causes and triggers. You may only have suffered from one cause or as with many people, had the burden of many. However, the only way to resolve anxiety attacks is to seek medical help and get treated. Anxiety attacks are not a mental health issue, but could become so if you leave it to fester. Talk to the one person you can trust and do not be ashamed as you are definitely not alone.

People who suffer from many anxiety disorders, including social anxiety, commonly experience anxiety attacks, which are also called panic attacks. If a person who has never experienced an anxiety attack before has one, it can be a very frightening experience. Statistics show that one out of every seventy-five people will experience at least one anxiety attack within their lifetime. In any given year, approximately 1/3 of all American adults will have at least one anxiety attack. (more…)