Health & Fitness

Anxiety, the Enemy!

Anxiety, the Enemy.


When my doctor told me I may have anxiety, I didn't argue. It felt obvious to me that it was there. I worried over things that didn't need to be worried about, I had a constant tight feeling in my chest as if I had this weight on me that would never come off, and I would panic for no reason at all. I remember my first ever panic attack, and I hadn't known anything about them at the time, which made it even worse. It was aweful. Afterwards, I decided to research anxiety and panic attacks more in order to be prepared in case of a second one. I'm putting this here to try and help out anyone else who thinks they may have an anxiety disorder. Be sure to consult a doctor about it, don't just say that you have the disorder because you match a few of the symptoms. Also, don't put down anyone who says they may have it, because you know nothing about them or their health.


1. What is anxiety?


First off, what is anxiety? An anxiety disorder is a serious mental illness that causes a person to be overly worried or fearful. Anxiety is a natural response to stress in human lives, but excessive anxiety brought on by the disorder can be harmful. It can not only hurt your mental state, but your physical self as well, such as loss of appetite, and any physical damage that can be brought on with regular stress. It is still unknown about the causes of anxiety, but it has been proven that they, like other mental illnesses, are not caused by personal weakness, a flaw in one's character, or by upbringing, and it should not be ridiculed as such.


2. Symptoms



  • Sudden feelings of panic, fear, uneasiness, unrest, or danger.

  • Insomnia

  • Cold/sweaty hands and/or feet

  • Shortness of breath

  • Heart palpitations(skip of the heart, often a feeling of a racing heart)

  • Restless actions such as rocking, swaying, tapping, and leg shaking

  • Dry mouth

  • Nausea

  • Dizziness

  • Muscle tension


Remember: Having symptoms on this list does NOT mean that you have an anxiety disorder. If you have multiple symptoms from this list, consult your doctor.


3. What is a panic attack?


A panic attack can be the most terrifying experience of your life. People who suffer from panic attacks often misdiagnose the occurance as a heart attack, which shows you just how bad they are. Panic attacks are a sudden burst of fear that can be triggered by something or just occur unprovoked. During a panic attack, you lose control of yourself, and the sensation lasts 10 or more minutes.


4. Am I having a panic attack?


Panic attacks can be diagnosed by a combination of these symptoms:



  • Shortness of breath/hyperventilating

  • Heart palpitations or a racing heart

  • Chest pain

  • Shaking

  • Feeling of choking

  • Detached from your surroundings

  • Sweating

  • Nausea or upset stomach

  • Dizzy, light-headed, or faint

  • Numbness or tingling

  • Hot or cold flashes

  • Fear of dying, loss of control, or going insane


5. How to combat a panic attack?


Okay, so the panic attack is starting. You can feel it creeping up on you. You want to ignore it, to pretend that it isn't there, and maybe it will go away. However, you shouldn't ignore the sensation. Acknowledge the fact that you're about to have a panic attack. Ignoring it will make it less expected when it actually happens. There is no way to stop a panic attack when it has started, but there are ways to make it more bearable. First off, remain in one spot. You may feel out of control, and that will make you wild but you want to relax as much as possible. Make yourself comfortable. Try to relax the tense muscles, one by one. Belly breathe, and keep an inner comentary going on what is happening around you. Try to ground yourself using your senses. Hold something solid, or smell something fragrant to keep yourself from being detached from the world around you. Andd through the whole thing, remind yourself that this will pass. The panic attack will end. The following link has a step by step process on handling anxiety attacks, and I got some of my information from it. https://www.anxietycoach.com/overcoming-panic-attacks.html If panic attacks are frequent, consult your doctor. Ask about something to prevent the attacks before they start.


The information in this post is a combination of my own experiences and research I've done online. There are many different forms of anxiety, and everyone responds to the stress differently. For more information, talk to your doctor.

Anxiety, the Enemy!
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