Understanding The Physical Signs Of Anxiety

Many people wonder whether they are having an anxiety attack and are curious about the physical signs of anxiety. This is certainly a valid concern because the symptoms of an anxiety attack can mimic other conditions. It is quite common for people to have an anxiety attack and think something else is going on, including a heart attack. nnThe physical signs of anxiety can include the following:nn• Feelings of unease, fear or panicn• Thoughts that are obsessive or uncontrollablen• Nightmaresn• Repetitive thoughts of traumatic experiences, including flashbacksn• Difficulty sleepingn• Ritualistic behaviorsn• Sweaty or cold handsn• Palpitationsn• Shortness of breathn• Dry mouthn• Unable to be calm and stilln• Nausean• Tingling or numbness in the feet or handsn• Muscle tensionnnIt is important to understand that this list is certainly not exhaustive of the symptoms of anxiety. It is very possible for an individual to experience an anxiety attack and have other symptoms. In many cases, an individual may experience certain anxiety attack symptoms at one time during an anxiety attack and an entirely different set of symptoms during a subsequent anxiety episode. This is one of the reasons that it can be difficult for many people to determine whether they are having an anxiety attack or suffering from some other health problem. It should be noted that if you are ever in doubt about whether you are having an anxiety attack or a heart attack, you should not delay seeing a physician. nnThe good news is that when you have determined that you are having an anxiety attack, you can begin taking steps to control physical symptoms related to your anxiety attacks. One of the first steps is to determine the type of anxiety attack you are suffering. There are many different types of anxiety disorders and each type of disorder may include certain symptoms that are not commonly present in other disorders. Types of anxiety disorders include:nn• Panic disordern• Social anxiety disordern• Obsessive-compulsive disorder; also known as OCDn• Post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSn• Specific phobias such as a fear of heights, flying, etc.nnAfter you have determined the type of anxiety disorder from which you suffer it is time to begin focusing your attention on the source of your anxiety and ways in which you can control your anxiety symptoms. The process of determining the source of your anxiety can take some time and you may find that professional assistance is required. Even during the process of determining the source of your anxiety; however, you can use practical methods to help control the symptoms of your anxiety. When you learn to control your anxiety you will be able to stop anxiety attacks before they have an opportunity to truly begin. This will allow you to regain control of your life while you work through your anxiety disorder. The physical signs of anxiety can be controlled with time, effort and dedication. n