Symptoms of Anxiety Attacks
Anxiety attacks are a common disease. In fact they are so common that we normally fail to look at this as a disease and just go on with our everyday lives, hoping we don’t have ‘one of those things’ coming up to ruin our day. The reality is, anxiety attacks are more often than not, a mental condition that can be overcome with the right treatment. Failure to do so can disrupt an otherwise perfectly normal life, although this generally doesn’t happen. Failure to treat this disorder can escalate the attack into something else over a period of time – remember a stitch in time saves nine! So try and self diagnose yourself or a friend or family member if you feel that the reason for abnormal behavior may well be anxiety – diagnose for anxiety attacks, and treat the situation. Get professional help if required.
Social responses common to a person suffering from the disorder
Anxiety attacks generally strike when we are faced with a situation that we are not comfortable with. It is difficult to hide it when it hits you because the symptoms of anxiety attacks can be obvious in their physical aspect, and is unwise and stressful to do so. This may be something like making a speech in front of a large crowd – such a situation is stressful for most people, but most people face up to the challenge. On the other hand, a person who is having an anxiety attack just prior to making his or her speech can go to great lengths to avoid it – the person may disappear for a few hours altogether, worst case scenario, only to resurface after ‘the storm has passed’, with a lame excuse for not being able to be there. The sad part is, most of us tend to look at such a person with ridicule, and we only succeed in causing even more anxiety to the already tormented human being. The person in question begins to wonder why he or she is cursed with these attacks, and looks for other ways to ‘feel good’. Unfortunately the ‘other ways’ normally include drugs and alcohol and not a psychiatrist!
Physical symptoms of anxiety disorder
Anxiety is not abnormal. An anxiety disorder is something else on the other hand. Shortness of breath, rapid pulse, palpitations and a cold sweat are all tell tale signs of anxiety. These are the physical defaces our body puts into action when we feel threatened, and can themselves become the reason for an anxiety disorder over time. On the other hand, the above-mentioned symptoms are part of the reasons man has reached the top of the food chain. A rapid pulse, and heavy breathing provide more oxygen to the mind and to the muscles, preparing the body for a ‘fight or flight’ situation – an imperative requirement while in danger, right – but an uncalled for embarrassment while in a room full of people, about to make a presentation. So anxiety disorder needs to be judged and diagnosed subjective to the social situation in question. Once you consciously study a person suffering from it, you will soon see a pattern of social situation that triggers the anxiety.
Overcoming GAD
When you are constantly suffering from panic attacks, the smartest move you can make is to accept your condition of anxiety and stress to yourself and get professional help – although it may wound your ego – look on the bright side – once you are treated you will rid yourself of this menace for good. If you have a friend who suffers from GAD, he or she needs your understanding and emotional support through their period of treatment, and you need to be there for them. There is nothing more fulfilling than helping a loved one through a time of their need. And there is nothing more comforting than to have someone to lean on in your time of need.
