So, exactly does an anxiety attack feel like? Only asking cause I think I had one today and it's never happened before.
Emotional symptoms of anxiety In addition to the primary symptoms of irrational and excessive fear and worry, other common emotional symptoms of anxiety include: Feelings of apprehension or dread Trouble concentrating Feeling tense and jumpy Anticipating the worst Irritability Restlessness Watching for signs of danger Feeling like your mind’s gone blank Physical symptoms of anxiety Anxiety is more than just a feeling. As a product of the body’s fight-or-flight response, anxiety involves a wide range of physical symptoms. Because of the numerous physical symptoms, anxiety sufferers often mistake their disorder for a medical illness. They may visit many doctors and make numerous trips to the hospital before their anxiety disorder is discovered. Common physical symptoms of anxiety include: Pounding heart Sweating Stomach upset or dizziness Frequent urination or diarrhea Shortness of breath Tremors and twitches Muscle tension Headaches Fatigue Insomnia
Ok - imagine you are alone, late at night. You are watching a scary movie and all of the sudden - WHAM, someone tries to scare you (like, a friend.) Or, you're driving along and a car pulls out in front of you... It's that fight or flight response, except it's over really benign stuff or it just happens out of no where. You can't really think - your only wish is to just get away from whatever you are doing. Your heart can race, and you just feel shaky. I don't hyperventilate, but I know some people do. Your chest can get tight and you can have discomfort - it's why a lot of people think they are having a heart attack. Do you have a history??
Regardless of whether you had an anxiety attack, it's always a good idea to work on controlling stress. Things like deep breathing, running cold water over your hands, progressive muscle relaxation, etc can all be useful.
Oddly I'm feeling chipper now. I really don't know what the hell that was...just a sudden feeling like I should be sitting here at work anymore.
Wheni get them, which isn't that frequently any more but, It always starts with my heart just going faster and faster till im really short of breath. I then can't control my breathing, feel really tired, get hot and sometimes faint if im not sitting down. It last like 20 mins depending on what situation i'm in.
