Symptoms of an Anxiety Attack

The symptoms of an anxiety attack can be extremely frightening to deal with, but sometimes the term “anxiety attack” is confusingly misused. A rapid heartbeat and butterflies, for instance, are indeed symptoms of an anxiety attack, but when they precede stressful events such as a final exam or a public speaking engagement they are more often than not merely normal responses to a difficult and stressful activity that will pass once the event has concluded.

Anxiety attacks should also not be confused with their “ugly cousin” the panic attack, which is characterized by an irrational and intense sense of fear that will last but a brief period of time, usually reaching its apex at about 10 minutes. While it’s true that panic and anxiety are both disorders that fall under the anxiety “umbrella,” they are actually quite different.

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The symptoms of an anxiety attack, especially when they persist for long periods of time are probably part of an anxiety disorder, and can be categorized as either social anxiety disorder or generalized anxiety disorder. Both can be debilitating, and while they share some of the same symptoms, those symptoms usually surface during different types of situations.

With social anxiety, sufferers will usually notice symptoms related to situations in which contact with other people is required. Parties, business meetings and social functions can be a nightmare to face when coping with social anxiety. With generalized anxiety, however, most people report a nagging uneasiness that seems to never leave them. Over time, this “generalized” feeling of fear and dread can become so pronounced that even the simplest tasks become problematic. Work, school and relationships begin to suffer, and for some, isolation seems like the only option.

The symptoms of an anxiety attack, in each type of disorder, are similar, and for those that deal with them on an ongoing basis they can be completely demoralizing. Generally characterized by an overpowering feeling of fear, dread or unease, which is both pronounced and persistent, anxiety symptoms can quickly transform a normal life into a hellish existence. While the list below will give the reader a general understanding of the symptoms of an anxiety attack, those that have dealt with the illness regularly assert that words cannot accurately describe their symptoms.

The Symptoms of an Anxiety Attack

Anxiety is classified as having the following symptoms which are not tied to any particular event or circumstance and persist over a long period of time. In simple terms, anxiety produces symptoms that just won’t go away:

• Persistently worried, nervous or on edge for no particular reason
  
• Irrational fears—such as the fear of dying or going crazy
  
• Worries and fears that interfere with your ability to work or maintain relationships
  
• Feeling disconnected or out of reality
  
• Sweating
  
• Dry Mouth
  
• Frequent urination
  
• Rapid heartbeat
  
• Avoidance
  
• Isolation

These are the most common symptoms of an anxiety attack, and while they may present as either panic or just a normal reaction to stress, the key difference is that these particular symptoms never seem to relent. Early recognition of these symptoms is very important in beginning to manage them. Despite how hopeless the situation might feel when in the midst of an anxiety disorder, the symptoms will go away. Anxiety is not a life sentence.

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