Anxiety attack symptoms can be described as a sudden onset of intense fear or discomfort that will typically last no longer than ten minutes, and can be very unsettling or even terrifying. They can come on for no reason and with no warning signs. Once a person has experienced an anxiety attack, they are at a higher risk of having another one. People who suffer from frequent attacks or have severe anxiety over having another attack are diagnosed with panic disorder.
A List of Symptoms
There are many different anxiety attack symptoms that a person may experience during an attack, it is important to be aware of some of the most common symptoms, such as:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain or a tightness in the chest
- An accelerated heart rate or a racing heart beat
- Unexplained sweating
- Unexplained trembling or shaking
- Feeling faint or light-headed
- Upset stomach or nausea
- Experiencing numbness or tingling sensation
- A fear of dying or a feeling of impending doom
- Experiencing a feeling of unreality or of being detached from oneself
- Having a fear of going crazy or of losing control
A person may experience one or more of these symptoms at one time or another. It is normal for you experience any of these symptoms and have a reasonable explanation for them, but if have no apparent reason and still have any of these symptoms, you may have a serious medical condition.
For example, a person may have an anxiety attack if they are exposed to something that may trigger a specific phobia they might have. These generally do not last long and will cease once the trigger is removed.
An attack generally occurs when a person experiences something that may be a symptom, such as a racing heart beat. They will them begin to feel afraid that the symptom may be a sign of a more serious problem, which will intensify the anxiety levels and induce a state of pure panic and intense anxiety.
Anxiety attack symptoms are very similar to what your body will experience when threatened or presented with danger. They are how the body reacts to extreme feelings of fear, worry or concern, but are not signs of a serious illness.
