Everyone suffers from feelings of anxiety from time to time and generally this doesn’t cause too much harm. However, when anxiety attacks symptoms become more severe than usual or last for a considerable time, then it might be time to seek help from a doctor or other health care provider.


Symptoms of anxiety can differ considerably from individual to individual but there are some that tend to crop up in most people. They can be very worrying when they first appear so to help you identify when you might be experiencing a bout of anxiety that is more than normal, here is a brief guide to the most typical anxiety attacks symptoms.  

To start with let us consider symptoms that make you feel different in a physical way. Some examples of these are:

  •          shortness of breath
  •          tremors of the hands or stomach muscles
  •          a weak feeling in the legs
  •          a tight feeling in the chest
  •          dry mouth
  •          tingling in all parts of the body

These physical anxiety attacks symptoms can be very frightening and act a bit like a double-edged sword;   they are brought about by feeling anxious and they in turn make the anxiety worse because of worry that they may be a sign of something wrong. This is particularly so for the person who has never experienced a severe anxiety or panic attack before.

For the majority of people it helps if they can sit or lie down somewhere quiet, breathe deeply and slowly and make an effort to relax. Gradually the symptoms that you feel will begin to reduce in intensity and the panicky feeling will subside. If you find that the physical manifestations of the anxiety stay with you after the anxiousness has disappeared, you would be wise to consult your doctor.

Not all anxiety attacks symptoms are physical in nature, however. Almost invariably people with extreme anxiety will have thoughts that tend to aggravate the condition. These can include: feelings of fear with no obvious cause; the thought that you are losing your mind; the thought that you will always feel the way that you do; an exaggerated sense of self; and so on. As with the physical symptoms, these thoughts and feelings are self-perpetuating and make the anxiety even worse, a real vicious circle. The main thing to bear in mind at times when you may be struck by similar anxiety attacks symptoms is that you will get better and the panic will subside. If you’ve experienced these situations before then it is a little easier to accept this as you know that you have recovered before, once the anxiety has reduced.

Although these anxiety attacks symptoms are frightening and worrying, in themselves they are relatively harmless and, to some extent normal, as they are your body’s natural reaction to something that has caused you distress. It is when the symptoms don’t go away with the anxiety, or when the anxiety lingers on long after the initial cause has disappeared, that there is reason to be more concerned and consider seeking professional help.

For more information and help in overcoming anxiety and panic disorders please take a look at my book, Cure Anxiety and Panic Attacks Fast, by clicking here.

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