So what is an anxiety attack anyway?
Anxiety is based on apprehension or fear about the future. An anxiety attack is a heightened response from the body that has been provoked by the mind. It is often in relation to a specific trigger and once that trigger is removed the anxiety passes.
Often the initial response from the body to uncontrolled anxious thoughts about the future is to increase heart rate or breathing speed increases. If the person experiencing this had not noticed the uncontrolled thoughts the change in heart rate or breathing can be seen as unexpected or scary which can fuel the experience and amplify it.
What are the symptoms of an anxiety attack?
They are similar to the symptoms of anxiety just more pronounced and noticeable. The symptoms for part of what is known as “panic disorder” so the things people experience during a panic attack or anxiety attack are similar.
There can be:
- Palpitations
- Sweatiness
- Dizziness
- Nausia
- Chest pain
- Pins and needles
- Churning stomach
And the list could go on and on.
How to deal with an anxiety attack
The first step it to tell yourself that as frightening as the symptoms might be, that they will pass and are just anxiety. Rather than trying to find distractions or to run away from the situation you are in a good approach can be to confront the feelings.
Prove to yourself that they are not stronger than you, that you can ride it out and get back to a state of being in control.
How can you stop an anxiety attack by breathing?
That might sound a little strange as surely you would be breathing anyway. Well, yes hopefully! Breathing is a funny thing though. It is often one of the first things to change when anxious thoughts happen. Some people forget to breathe. Other people breathe shorter, faster breaths.
When you take control of your breathing though and focus on all the little details of each breath as it happens then instead of focusing on the anxiety you are focusing on something that can dissolve the anxiety.
This technique uses elements of mindfulness which is an increased awareness of the present moment and an acceptance of what is happening. Mindfulness in itself can be a good thing to learn if you want to tackle anxiety.
What is the difference between an anxiety attack and panic attack?
An anxiety attack is usually a response to a trigger and is a comparatively short-lived episode. When the trigger or situation is removed then the anxiety passes. While the feelings associated with the moment are often unpleasant they are not too extreme.
A panic attack happens with no conscious awareness of a reason for it, the symptoms are a lot more severe and many people think that they are having a heart attack or are about to die.
Is there a test for anxiety?
There are several tests for anxiety available online. These are usually in the form of a multiple choice questionnaire and the higher your score the more anxious you are. One of the better anxiety tests online is from the website Psychology Today. The test takes about 10 minutes to complete and will give you a better idea if the symptoms you have could be anxiety.
With a clearer understanding of the symptoms you have experienced, it makes it easier to move towards a solution that meets your needs.
How is anxiety treated?
If you go to a GP with your symptoms and they diagnose anxiety is is highly likely that rather than helping you to find a solution for the cause of the anxiety they will instead focus on treating the symptoms of the anxiety.
This is most commonly done with medication.
There are three main groups of medications that are commonly prescribed for anxiety symptoms.
Medication for anxiety
Antidepressants
Being prescribed antidepressants for anxiety symptoms is a little concerning for some people and they are keen to point out that the medication is not for depression. The reason these drugs are often prescribed though is because when a person’s brain is experiencing depression it is doing similar things to a person who is anxious.
These drugs change the amount of serotonin available between the nerves in the brain. Antidepressants prescribed for anxiety include citralopram , fluroxetine, sertraline and fluvoxamine.
It can take six weeks or more for some of these drugs to get to a point where they have an effect. There can also be some rather unpleasant side effects to using these drugs but those effects vary between individuals.
Benzodiazepines
Drugs in this category include Valium, diazepam, and lorazepam. GPs tend to prescribe these for a very short amount of time because they can be highly addictive and have the potential for side effects such as:
- Blurred vision
- Sleepiness
- Memory problems
These drugs are often used to reduce high blood pressure or reduce heart palpitations. They can be used to treat a specific situation that might have caused anxiety, like a job interview or getting on an aeroplane.
Used for the treatment of high blood pressure and a racing heart, they can be effective for anxiety over something specific. For instance, if you were anxious over a future presentation or exam then beta blockers could be a good way of tackling anxiety symptoms.
For more information on anti-anxiety medication, there is a great page on panic-attacks.co.uk
How is anxiety treated without medication?
Not everyone wants to use medication to tackle anxiety symptoms. Some people are fearful of side effects of medication. Some people want to tackle the cause of their anxiety and find a lasting solution that doesn’t involve medication.
There are several options when it comes to tackling anxiety without medication.
Hypnotherapy for anxiety
The number one recommendation I have is hypnotherapy for anxiety. As a hypnotherapist, I would say that though! I have seen hypnosis for anxiety change people’s lives for the better and in some cases anxiety can vanish overnight when you work with a skilled hypnotist.
A great hypnotherapist will be able to help you change your attitude, to change your focus and get the results you desire. If you would like to find out more about how I could help you to address anxiety using hypnotherapy just drop me a line.
CBT for anxiety
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy has been successfully used to treat anxiety for some time. CBT is a conscious process that over the years has integrated several techniques from the world of Neuro Linguistic Programming, which is closely related to hypnotherapy.
CBT is available through the NHS although the resources made available for this approach are limited so there could be an extensive waiting list if you want to tackle anxiety through CBT.
Mindfulness for anxiety
Mindfulness is all the rage at the moment and rightly so. It is based on an increased awareness of the present moment and an acceptance of things as they are. This method involves observing thoughts rather than engaging with them. There are further benefits from the breathing techniques associated with the process.
The evidence base for the effectiveness of mindfulness is growing by the month as more resources are put into researching this field.
