Anxiety attacks plague many people all over the world, the stresses of the economy, work, family, and everyday life can be too much for some people. There are many anxiety attack symptoms that you can use to diagnose yourself with an anxiety disorder.

What is an anxiety attack?

The stresses of children, work, money, family, the economy, and other daily situations can prove to be a little too much for us at times. The feeling as if everything is hopeless and that there is no way it will ever get better is the beginning of an anxiety attack. An anxiety attack is when a person starts to feel anxious, then it moves on to panic about things that might happen or that have happened and no amount of rational thinking can stop the attack.

What causes an anxiety attack?

Anxiety attacks can be caused by many different things; doctors believe it can be from an anxiety disorder which can be caused from genetics, the environment in which you live, and/or a chemical imbalance in the brain. People experiencing anxiety attack symptoms can also be suffering from depression, panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder, phobias, and other anxiety related diseases and disorders.

The difference between anxiety attacks and panic attacks

Anxiety attacks and panic attacks are very simple anxiety attack symptoms and panic symptoms are very similar. When one is suffering from an anxiety attack they may feel like they are restless, they will often feel like they can’t hold still or that they need to get up and move around in order for them to feel better. Anxiety attacks can be caused by stress but for some it can come on all on its own. There doesn’t have to be a reason for the attack you just may feel like you are anxious about something or afraid.
Panic attacks can stem from a phobia or an irrational fear of some sort. Panic attacks mostly happen to people suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder because they may think that if they don’t perform a certain ritual something bad will happen. Panic attacks can be worse than an anxiety attack because they are more intense. You may feel as if you are going crazy and even feel some physical symptoms from it.

Emotional anxiety attack symptoms

Emotional anxiety attack symptoms can range from restlessness, fear, feeling as though you are dying or having a heart attack, sweating, dizziness, and feeling like nothing will ever get better.

Physical anxiety attack symptoms

Physical anxiety attack symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, lack of sleep, oversleeping, eating disorders, headaches, muscle aches, neck aches, muscle tension, nausea, twitching, tingling in the fingers and/or toes, and frequent urination. All of these anxiety attack symptoms can be treated by a doctor.

Seeking the help of a doctor if you think you have an anxiety disorder can be the best thing you can do. Doctors can recommend medication, therapy, relaxation techniques, mediation, and breathing exercises.