| The symptoms of an anxiety panic attack can vary | | | | or fight response. The body will then add adrenalin to |
| from person to person depending on the severity of | | | | the blood stream and that starts a chain of events |
| the attack. I you recently had an experience that you | | | | that readies the body for flight or fight. |
| can not explain and you are wondering if you had a | | | | In extreme cases, say being attacked by a mugger, |
| panic attack; check out this list of possible symptoms: | | | | the body produces enough adrenalin to get the heart |
| - Shortness of breath | | | | beating rapidly and the lungs breathing quickly to get |
| - Rapid heart beat | | | | oxygenated blood to the muscle groups that we will |
| - Excessive sweating | | | | need to defend ourselves. In a less extreme situation, |
| - Difficulty breathing | | | | say stage freight, less adrenalin is pumped but you still |
| - Nausea | | | | feel the effect. Sometimes this is called jitters. |
| - Hot flashes or chills | | | | We've all had anxiety. Remember the first time you |
| - Tense joints and muscles | | | | went swimming. If you were like me you were scared |
| - A feeling that you are out of control | | | | to death. But as we repeat the experience we learn |
| - A fear that you are going crazy | | | | that there really is nothing to fear if you know how to |
| - Dizziness | | | | swim. |
| - An overall feeling that something awful is going to | | | | The same concept applies to panic attacks. |
| happen | | | | The brain is triggered to send a message to the body |
| Many people who have anxiety panic attacks confuse | | | | that a danger is imminent. This danger is unreal. |
| them with heart attacks and will call 911 or present | | | | Nobody knows for certain how it is triggered. If |
| themselves at the ER. | | | | however you can accept that it is just a panic attack |
| If you have experienced these symptoms, and you've | | | | and will pass, you can better control the experience. |
| seen your doctor to rule out a physical problem, then | | | | Also, if you can interrupt the message using a number |
| you may have had an anxiety panic attack. | | | | of distraction techniques, the attack will stop almost |
| First of all, don't worry, you can handle it. | | | | instantly. |
| Anxiety is a natural and needed part of the human | | | | Once you know you can control the attack, just like |
| makeup. It warns us of danger, can make us more | | | | knowing how to swim, your fear of the attack will |
| acute thinkers and goads us on to perform better. | | | | disappear. |
| Your panic attack was simply anxiety that was | | | | And here's the cool part. If you don't fear another |
| uncontrolled. You reacted to a danger that was not | | | | attack, you won't get one. |
| there but was perceived by your brain. | | | | So if you think you've had an anxiety panic attack, it is |
| When the brain perceives a danger, depending on how | | | | simply a matter of learning how to "swim" your way |
| severe it is, it will send a message to activate the flight | | | | through to a fear free life. |