Friday, January 23, 2009

What Are The Physical Symptoms Of Anxiety ?

By Adrian Fletcher

The physical symptoms of an anxiety attack are immediately recognizable to anyone who has experienced this in the past. Among other symptoms, the person may experience difficulty breathing, sweating, chest pain, numbness in the extremities, and uncontrollable shaking. Any combination of these symptoms, or even experiencing other unusual symptoms, can accompany an anxiety attack.

Physical symptoms of an anxiety attack can mimic those of a heart attack or even nervous breakdown. Many people wind up in the emergency room of a hospital as a result. Although this step is not really necessary for the panic attack, people may still benefit from professional care. People who suffer from severe anxiety may need other alternatives in dealing with the anxiety.

Researchers believe that the full-blown physical symptoms of an anxiety attack are linked to the survival 'fight or flight' response that is an instinctive survival reaction in most creatures, including humans. In humans, when the brain perceives a dangerous situation, it releases stress hormones, primarily cortisol and adrenaline. Physical manifestations include an energy rush, increased sensitivity to surroundings and marked aggressiveness. These changes allow the body to react quickly to a situation and repair itself quicker if it is injured in some way. However during an anxiety attack, these manifestations occur for no apparent reason and the body often absorb or defuse this change in it's homeostasis. Hence the physical symptoms of an anxiety attack, as described before.

Recent research suggests that recurring panic attacks are related to an increased incidence of future stroke or heart attack. Those who experience a single instance of the physical symptoms of an anxiety attack without a prior record of anxiety disorder are not necessarily prone to cardiovascular issues or any long-term issues. But further study is needed to determine if repeated panic attacks actually cause heart problems or are only related to them in some way.

Some physicians believe that heart problems can result from the use of medications that are prescribed to treat anxiety disorder. In any event, a panic attack is a sign that something is wrong, and the root of the problem must be found and corrected, instead of simply alleviating the physical symptoms of an anxiety attack.

It is difficult to deal with or treat the physical symptoms of an anxiety attack. The symptoms are treatable but the underlying causes are psychological and embedded within the person's psyche. Different therapies have been developed to delve into the psychological traits that cause stress in a person, which manifests as an anxiety attack. One such effective therapy is cognitive behavioral therapy which uses a subject's own willpower to fashion responses to any stressful situation that he or she may encounter.

The techniques that are used to combat physical symptoms of anxiety attacks include breathing exercises and relaxation techniques that are sometimes combined with aromatherapy, acupuncture or massage therapy. Despite what some may think, treatment of physical symptoms of anxiety attacks is not as trivial as mind over matter. Anxiety is a genuine medical condition with far-reaching and sometimes devastating consequences and requires specialized treatment. With proper therapy, many people can overcome the effects of this disorder. - 20896

About the Author:

No comments:

Post a Comment