What Is An Anxiety Attack?
Anxiety, in its basic form, is a common part of daily life. You get anxious in stressful situations. You feel good anxiousness when there’s a certain level of excitement.
Anxiety is a built-in protection mechanism that keeps you alert and focused when you are faced with a challenging situation. When experienced in moderation, it is considered healthy. When your anxiety starts to become more consistent or more intense, however, it starts to cross the line into what’s considered an anxiety disorder. Let’s explore what this means.
What is an Anxiety Attack?
An anxiety attack isn’t a formally defined condition listed in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition), the main reference book and guidebook for mental health. Rather, it is a very subjective and personal feeling.
Oftentimes, people interchange panic attacks with anxiety attacks and describe similar symptoms for both. While they are similar, they are not necessarily the same condition.
Symptoms of an Anxiety Attack
Anxiety attacks can cause physical symptoms that interfere with normal functioning. You may experience lightheadedness, dizziness, nausea, hot flashes, restlessness, and headaches. Additionally, physiological symptoms like diarrhea, rapid breathing, an elevated heart rate, body aches, and sweating may occur.
During an anxiety attack, you may find your mind wandering down a path of irrational thoughts. You may experience fearfulness over rational or irrational matters. Your sensations and feelings are intense and difficult to control. Depending on the severity of the situation and your symptoms, you may even feel like you’re going to die from the intensity.
Cause of an Anxiety Attack
Anxiety results from stress or worry about a specific situation. Typically, anxiety is more gradual and compounds over time. Its severity can vary from mild to moderate to severe.
When it comes to an anxiety attack, it may be at the head of constant anxiety, or it may come without any kind of warning. The latter is more likely to be considered a panic attack, though. You may find yourself feeling a loss of control and an inability to manage your symptoms.
Causes of anxiety attacks are also very personal and may vary depending on the type of anxiety you’re dealing with.
Studies have shown genetic factors to influence the likelihood of experiencing anxiety. Living through a traumatic event will also increase the possibility of anxiety attacks. Stressful life situations, environments, and physical conditions will make you more prone to anxiety and flare-ups into a full attack.
Triggers include chronic pain, chronic illnesses, phobias, stressful work environments, uncomfortable social situations, driving or commuting, withdrawal from drugs, alcohol, or caffeine, medication side effects, or thyroid irregularities.
Duration of an Anxiety Attack
Anxiety is more gradual, and an anxiety attack generally occurs on a more gradual scale as well. They can last from minutes to an extended period of time. Panic attacks peak quickly, usually within 10 minutes, but this isn’t as common with anxiety attacks.
When you experience anxiety attacks, it is possible that they can lead to panic attacks.
Treatment for an Anxiety Attack
Some physicians may recommend medication for managing symptoms, especially if anxiety attacks are occurring frequently. Examples include antidepressants, beta-blockers, and anti-anxiety medications.
There are also non-medication ways to manage your symptoms, like breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, mindfulness-based interventions, physical exercises, and self-care work, such as acceptance and understanding.
When your symptoms need a little extra TLC, there are talk-based therapies that can help. These include cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, and exposure therapy — to name a few.
If you’re experiencing anxiety attacks or are dealing with constant anxiety that could lead to an attack, contact us today to schedule a consultation.