If feelings of panic, worry, and fright are swallowing up portions of your life you may be having anxiety attacks; also known as panic attacks.
Anxiety has many symptoms and can lead to excessive stress and bouts of depression.
Are you, or a member of your family, experiencing these symptoms? Anxiety is a natural part of life.
Occasional anxiety can get you going, planning, and performing for your future.
This type of anxiety could even be considered to have a "positive" impact on your life.
But, experiencing HIGH amounts of anxiety can hinder you and interfere with normal healthy body functions.
Frequent and high levels of anxiety will interrupt and even dominate your everyday life.
This type of anxiety needs to be curtailed.
An estimated 15 to 20 percent of Americans suffer from anxiety disorders.
Generalized anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, and obsessive-compulsive disorder are forms of anxiety that can negatively inflict a human being.
Anxiety disorders are considered to be the most common type of disorder in the country.
Anxiety, at times, can explode into an attack.
A general feeling of terror falls over you and you become engulfed with worry.
You feel your heart racing and your chest begins to tighten; you feel as if you're having a heart attack.
Then your breathing becomes difficult as your body begins to shake and your palms begin to sweat.
Your limbs are filled with a tingling sensation and your head feels as if it will float away.
Have you felt these experiences?Know anyone who does?Those are symptoms often referred to as a panic attack.
In addition, if you feel you're losing control of your body or if you "feel" crazy, then you could be a victim of anxiety and panic attacks.
These attacks can become so terrifying that you fear you won't make it through the episodic event.
Attacks can happen for no obvious reason.
Or they can occur when you're coping with an extreme amount of stress.
Whatever causes your attacks they will disrupt a normal day because they can last for many minutes and sometimes even hours.
There's also a type of "social anxiety.
"You feel as though others are watching and judging you even though you know that isn't the case.
Mild social anxiety can create self-consciousness when surrounded by other people.
But it's debilitating when it becomes severe.
Anxiety attack symptoms in this case include deciding to avoid all social situations.
You may choose to be completely alone.
"Generalized anxiety disorder," or GAD, is another common form of anxiety.
It not only affects how you think but also how you feel.
Symptoms to be aware of are excessive worry and tension, trembling, becoming easily startled, sweating, frequent urination, inability to sleep, headaches, and restlessness.
Although GAD doesn't usually lead to a panic attack, it can still be incapacitating.
When you're filled with an extraordinary amount of worry, worry that will not go away, your energy is depleted and you lose all interest in life.
Symptoms of "phobic disorder" ones are intense, persistent, and recurrent fear of certain objects (e.
g.
, snakes, spiders, blood).
Or they could be fear of situations (e.
g.
, heights, speaking in front of a group, flying, public places).
Exposure to a phobia you have can trigger an attack.
Regardless of how anxiety develops in a person, it can be controlled.
You can help avoid anxiety attack symptoms with some simple actions.
Reduce or eliminate caffeine from your diet.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any over-the-counter medicines or herbal remedies.
Some contain anxiety enhancing chemicals.
And daily exercise along with a healthy diet works wonders.
Finally, seek professional counseling and support after a traumatic or disturbing experience.
Your reward will be days consisting of less worry, more hope, and fewer anxiety attack symptoms.