Am I Having An Anxiety Attack?

Chances are that at one point or another, you’ve experienced physical or emotional distress that sends your body into overdrive. Your breathing may become rapid, and you may feel your heart rate increase. You might have trouble sleeping, or be overcome by feelings of dread or worry. Though it may seem frightening, this is your body doing what it does best: keeping you protected. 

Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress that can be responsible for keeping us out of danger. It’s our body’s automatic fight-or-flight response, and it gets triggered when we feel threatened, uncomfortable, or under pressure. Although anxiety is an uncomfortable feeling, it keeps us alert and focused while also helping us to solve problems. A certain amount of anxiety is a useful thing. For those who struggle with unusual amounts of anxiety, however, it can become a disorder that debilitates your daily life and requires treatment.

What Is An Anxiety Disorder?

For those struggling with an anxiety disorder, these feelings are constant. You may suffer from intense, excessive, and persistent feelings of worry or fear in everyday situations. You have little to no control over how your body reacts, and may avoid certain places or people altogether in order to prevent these feelings from occurring. Anxiety disorders often come with a sudden, intense feeling of fear or terror that reaches a peak within minutes, causing panic attacks. 

If you have anxiety disorder, the feelings get worse over time instead of going away. The symptoms can interfere with daily activities like school, work, and relationships. RECO Intensive specializes in treating several types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorders, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, and separation anxiety disorder.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

People with a generalized anxiety disorder will experience excessive anxiety or worry on most days, for at least six months. Fear and anxiety can cause issues in multiple areas of a person’s life, including social interactions, school, and work. Symptoms may include:

• Feelings of restlessness or being on edge
• Fatigue
• Difficulty focusing
• Irritability
• Muscle tension
• Difficulty sleeping 

Panic Disorders

Individuals suffering from a panic disorder will experience repeated episodes in which feelings of intense anxiety arise suddenly. These feelings can peak within minutes, leading to a full-blown panic attack. Panic attacks are a combination of physical and psychological distress. Symptoms can include:

• A feeling of impending doom
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pains, or rapid heart palpitations
• Sweating, trembling, or shaking
• Chest pains
• Numbness or tingling
• A change in body temperature
• Feelings of nausea or abdominal pains
• Fear of dying or loss of control

Someone experiencing a panic attack may feel as though they are having a heart attack.

Agoraphobia

Someone suffering from agoraphobia is faced with an intense fear or two or more of the following situations:

• Use of public transportation
• Being in open or enclosed spaces
• Standing in line or being in a crowded space
• Being outside of their home alone

Social Anxiety Disorders

Someone with a social anxiety disorder has an intense fear of being in a social or performance situation. They may display significant discomfort in situations in which they see the potential to be embarrassed, humiliated, or rejected. Common fears associated with social anxiety disorders are fear of public speaking or meeting new people. This worry often causes people to avoid social situations. 

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Someone suffering from separation anxiety disorder may experience a fear of being away from the person of their attachment. This by no means something that only children experience; many adults struggle with this type of anxiety disorder. It causes one to worry that some sort of harm will happen to the person they’re attached to if they are separated. This fear can cause a person to be reluctant to sleep or eat, they may experience nightmares or even develop physical symptoms when separated. 

The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that nearly one in five Americans over the age of 18 has some sort of anxiety disorder. The numbers are higher for teenagers; an estimated one in three people suffers from an anxiety disorder between the ages of 13 and 18.

Am I Experiencing An Anxiety Attack?

You may be experiencing an anxiety attack or a panic attack if you’re having episodes of intense panic or fear. Anxiety attacks can come on quite suddenly. They usually peak within 10 minutes, lasting up to 30 minutes. Although the time may seem short, a person may experience terror so severe that they feel as if they are going to die. Physical symptoms can be extremely frightening, causing some people to think they are having a heart attack. Symptoms of an anxiety attack can include:

• Overwhelming panic
• Feelings of losing control
• Increases in heart palpitations
• Dizziness
• Trouble breathing
• Hot flashes or chills
• Trembling or shaking
• Nausea

Treatment

Anxiety disorder can be treated with psychotherapy, medication, or both. At RECO Intensive, our knowledgeable, professional staff are ready to help you regain control over your life. 

If left untreated, anxiety disorders can consume your life. Although occasional anxiety is normal, it is not regular or healthy to live with severe symptoms of anxiety. Feelings of anxiety before a job interview or an intense situation may be temporary for some, but for others these feelings do not go away, and instead  worsen over time. An individual with an anxiety disorder is tormented by their symptoms daily, jeopardizing their ability to attend work or school and maintain relationships. There are numerous types of anxiety disorders, so reach out to a mental health professional to discuss your symptoms. Don’t think you have to fight through this alone; there is effective treatment available to you. At RECO Intensive, our team specializes in treating anxiety disorders. You do not have to be burdened with your anxiety any longer. Reach out to us today so we can help you rediscover yourself. Call RECO Intensive at (561) 464-6533.