Anxiety is a feeling of fear, apprehension and discomfort over a situation. This is actually a good and healthy feeling since the body is able to recognize something that it needs to address. This "flight or fight" response enables the body to get that much needed boost of energy to react to the specific situation. In this case, anxiety is helpful. However, if it gets intense, recurring and exaggerated, it may already be considered as an anxiety attack.

The exact cause of an anxiety attack is not fully understood, but research suggests that genetics, life experiences and brain chemistry contribute to the onset of the attack. What is known is that during the attack, a person shows signs and changes in the body.

The immediate sign of anxiety attack is increased heartbeat or palpitation. This is the most distressing among anxiety symptoms. But this is generally a good thing since the heart works harder to pump more blood to your body, especially to your legs and your arms, enabling you to have a surge of energy to respond quicker than normal to any emergency. The chest feels tight as if it refuses to expand to accommodate air the body needs. Sometimes, the feeling is like someone is pushing a pillow into your face.

The additional oxygen requirement of the body must be compensated by breathing. Thus, during an anxiety attack, you breathe faster. As your arms and legs receive more oxygen and energy, your muscles tend to get tensed, which is important when abrupt movement is needed.

As your arms and legs receive more supply of oxygen through the blood, other parts of the body receive less than normal supply of oxygen (the stomach and the brain can survive with less oxygen during emergency situations). In other words, the oxygen that is supposed to go to the stomach is redirected to the arms and legs. This explains why a person who is undergoing an anxiety attack experiences churning feeling in the stomach. Because the brain receives less amount of oxygen for a short period of time, the person experiences light-headedness and dizziness. (Take note, however, that the reduced supply of oxygen in the brain is just enough to produce these symptoms and doesn't cause any permanent brain damage.)

Because your heart pumps more blood to your muscles, your body temperature increases. So to keep a relatively normal temperature, you begin to sweat.

Aside from these signs, you can also experience weakness or fatigue, tingling sensation, and dry mouth. Also, side-effects of these signs may include diarrhea and constant urination. 

These body responses are automatic. Meaning, there is no "switch" to turn it on. Thus, there is also no way you can turn it off by simply thinking that you should not feel any of these symptoms. What you should do, especially if the attack is chronic, recurring and it already affects your life, is to seek medical help. This way, your doctor will be able to identify and rule out any other possible causes of these signs which are unrelated to anxiety.

Allow your doctor to conduct a physical exam. He may prescribe you a drug or may refer you to a psychologist or a therapist. Following your doctor is important so do not ignore any advice and believe that you are totally okay.

Anxiety is normal and healthy emotion experienced by all. The body reacts to the stimulus that leads to either fight or flight "over the situation. However, when the anxiety attacks is a chronic, severe, and the absurd, and begins to affect human health (physically, mentally and emotionally), is becoming a problem to be addressed immediately. It is a thick line between anxiety attacks both healthy and diseased. Unfortunately, the Blue Line is almost ignored, which exceeds the normal anxiety anxiety disorder.

Type of anxiety disorder

There are six types of anxiety, each has its own characteristics: generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias, post traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic anxiety or fear of almost everything, not even know why. They feel, strive every day activities and worry that the bad will happen. People with symptoms of GAD as indigestion, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia.

Repeatable panic disorder, panic attacks and fears of unexpected episodes of panic that is likely to happen. People with panic disorder, which may have agoraphobia, or fear of the place where help or escape would be difficult if another panic attack. People with agoraphobia fear of getting stuck in confined areas, like air or in densely populated areas like a mall.

A phobia is an irrational fear, irrational and exaggerated the simple things that are normally present little or no risk. Common phobias heights, snakes, spiders, darkness, and air. People phobias tend to avoid what they fear, the anxiety attacks. However, to ensure that only reinforce the fear.

PTSD is an anxiety disorder that occurs when life threatening or traumatic event. People with PTSD symptoms as hyper-vigilance, avoid situations or places that are similar to them in the event, nightmares and flashbacks of the things that has happened, and very easy to separate.

Social anxiety disorder and social phobia is the fear of being seen a negative or fear of public humiliation of others. Social anxiety is often mistakenly considered to be generally very shy. People with this disorder usually are isolated from other people or events, and places usually have a collection. Fever Ramp is the most common type of social anxiety.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or the Republic of China is a state in which a person that negative thoughts and behaviors that seem impossible to control. Republic of China, people may have certain obsessions such as fear they may hurt someone or that they forgot to turn off the lights. It can also be an uncontrollable compulsion. The most common is frequent hand washing.

Do you experience anxiety attacks?

• You're always worried, tense, and on the edge?

• Do you feel that is at risk when it is limited?

• afraid to mix customers, new friends or even meet the relatives?

What is a panic attack?

A panic attack is a sudden attack of exaggerated anxiety and fear. Often, attacks happen without warning and without any apparent reason. Some people may experience just one episode of panic attack, while others can have recurring episodes. Recurring episodes usually happen after a person is exposed to various events or situations that may "trigger" panic. While it is generally harmless, panic attacks can severely disable a person physically, emotionally and psychologically. In extreme cases, panic attacks can lead to panic disorder.

Who gets panic attacks?

The condition affects many people. It is believed that 10% of the total population is suffering from panic attacks, yet many are still undiagnosed or under-diagnosed. They tend to occur more on young adults. Female are twice as prone to have an attack as male. It is also said that the condition is genetically inherited so panic attacks may run in the family.

How do I know if I am having an attack?

A panic attack can be identified with different signs and symptoms. They include increased heartbeat or palpitation, chest pain, hyperventilation or shortness of breath, stomach churning, upset stomach, trembling and shaking, muscle tension, sweating, dizziness and light-headedness, hot or cold flashes, tingling sensation or numbness, fear of dying, going crazy or losing control and feeling detached from the surroundings.

The signs and symptoms of panic attacks are similar to a heart attack. The former is not dangerous, the latter can be deadly. It is best therefore to seek for emergency medical help, especially if the patient experiences it for the first time.

What cause an attack?

Many panic attacks happen without any apparent reason; they just come out of the blue. However, attacks may be caused by past traumatic experiences such as death of a loved one, family conflicts, bad relationships, divorce of parents, car accident, public humiliation, etc. An attack may occur when a person is exposed to various events or situations almost similar to the past that may "trigger" panic.

Stress is closely linked to panic attacks. Triggers include stressful life event as well as stressful working and living environment. Genetics is also believed to cause an attack.

What should I do during an attack?

Panic attacks peak from 5 to 10 minutes; it rarely lasts for more than half an hour. But during this time, you can experience discomfort such as those signs and symptoms mentioned above. Since the increased in heart rate is the main reason for experiencing other symptoms, it is important to take control of your breathing during an attack. Breathe slowly and deeply as you can. Breathe in slowly for 3 counts then hold your breath for the next 3 slow counts. Then, exhale for 3 slow counts.

Do this until you are calm. If you are able to stand, get up slowly and walk around. It is also helpful to breathe into a plastic or a paper bag. This allows you to re-breathe your carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide helps correct the blood acid level that had been disturbed by excessive breathing. 

While practicing deep breathing, try to focus your attention away from the cause of panic. Replace your anxious thoughts with happy ones. If available, do something that will occupy your mind such as solving puzzles and playing word games.