By Wendy J

Everyone knows what it is like to feel anxious – your heart pounds, you feel flush and tense. For some, this emotion is triggered by a traumatic event such as a car accident. For others, small things like being late for a meeting trigger this emotion. But at what point does a general anxious emotion become an anxiety disorder?

Anxiety disorders aren’t just a case of “nerves”. They are illnesses often related to the biological makeup and life experiences of an individual.

There are several types of anxiety disorders, each with its own distinct features. Generalized anxiety disorder is more than the normal day-to-day anxiety people experience. It is chronic, constant and exaggerated worry and tension over minor things that occur in daily life.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), “having this disorder means always anticipating disaster, often worrying excessively about health, money, family or work”.

A person with generalized anxiety disorder usually demonstrates symptoms of poor sleeping patterns and the inability to relax.

Panic disorder is another type of anxiety disorder. People with panic disorder have feelings of terror that can occur suddenly. Because these attacks occur without warning, the individual spends time consumed with worry that another attack could happen at any minute.

When a panic attack strikes, a person might feel faint, dizzy, weak or sweaty. During these attacks individuals can experience chest pain or believe they are going to die.

Studies from the NIMH indicate that panic disorder affects between three and six million Americans. Like other anxiety disorders, it is twice as common in women as in men and most often begins in young adulthood. The NIMH also points to studies that show that cognitive-behavioral therapy, medication or a combination of the two can help between 70 to 90 percent of people with panic disorder.

Phobias are also a type of anxiety disorder. While there are several different categories of phobias, each involve an intense irrational fear of some sort. Characteristics might include fear of people, heights or closed-in-places. Again, with the right combination of medication and/or therapy, phobias are treatable.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) also falls under the category of anxiety disorders. This illness involves a pressing need to do everything in a ritualistic manner. People with OCD might be obsessed with germs or dirt and wash their hands a lot.

Many healthy people can identify with having some symptom of OCD, such as checking the stove several times before leaving the house, but the disorder is diagnosed only when such activities consume at least an hour a day, are distracting and interfere with daily life.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that follows a terrifying event. Often people with PTSD relive a traumatic event over and over causing them to feel emotionally numb. Recollections of the event consume their thoughts and can cause repeated nightmares.

Once believed to effect war veterans exclusively, PTSD (formally referred to as shell shock or battle fatigue) is now the diagnosis for individuals experiencing similar symptoms after a traumatic event, rape, kidnapping or car accident.

The important thing to remember about anxiety disorders, no matter what type, is that they are treatable. How the disorder is treated varies with each individual.

Wendy Jones has been helping people protect their health for many years. For more information about dealing with panic and anxiety attacks visit Wendys site at Conquer Your Anxiety. You can also be notified of all updates automatically via the RSS feed Conquer Your Anxiety RSS

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By Larry Cowan
Leading a normal life with a panic disorder is extremely difficult and disturbing. Most people suffering from panic attacks tend to see every situation as a possible threat and hence live every single day trying to avoid meeting people, traveling, living alone, getting into conflicts or arguments etc.

I can empathize with people suffering from this disorder as I myself was a victim of it for a long time. But, thankfully, the modern days have come up with numerous modern ways to deal with this problem, thus relieving many people of their agony. Read on as I explain to you how I was freed from my panic attacks.

When panic attacks get the better of you, most people would prefer immediate relief and hence turn to drugs. But as you keep taking these drugs, you will realize that not only does it make your condition worse, but you reach a point where you just cannot stop taking these drugs and then you end up ruining your physical and mental health. The root of the problem, the reason for the attacks, the reason for not being able to perceive a situation in the right manner, all these problems cannot be set right by the use of drugs. They only give you symptomatic relief when you are extremely nervous, or you have a racing pulse or you are sweating profusely, when you feel like someone is strangling you etc.

When a situation is perceived as a small trigger, most normal people react by feeling a little nervous, start sweating and experience slight palpitation. But, in people suffering from panic attacks, these little triggers are perceived as a huge threat and they react with symptoms that are much more severe when compared to normal limits, which is why these people always seem to be tensed and afraid.

A panic attack is very treatable. What you need to do first and foremost is accept that you have a little problem, a problem that does not let you perceive certain painful situations in the right way. Instead of worrying about all the reactions that happen in your body when the mind is triggered, try to focus on re-thinking and re-living that triggering situation over and over again until your mind develops the art of looking at it calmly without going insane.

Every new situation should be taken as a challenge, like a new mathematical problem where your mind gradually develops the art of solving different kinds of problems by proper analysis. Once you learn how to do this, you will see that your mental and physical health improves a great deal, which will improve your overall quality of life.

Overcoming panic attacks is without a doubt achievable and something that ultimately changed my life. If you would like to know more on how I overcame my disorder and how you can too, then visit my blog at: Cure for Panic Attacks

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when i went in and they did a million tests they said its just an Anxiety Disorder, and everything is ok. at that point they told me i had Heart Palpitations from the disorder…i did not know what that meant

I thought, i meant just rapid heart beat…..well, come to find out, its skipped beats, flutters, temporart irregular rythem….

now, some 8 monthes later, i FINALLY notice the palpitations, i did not notice before.

WHAT A HORRIBLE THING…..i had no idea thats what they were talking about, and worse yet…i just have to ‘deal with it’. because all the medical people say its definitly not serious at all.

basically, anyone else who has this disorder ever have these ‘skipped beats’ or palpitations? just looking for someone to relate with.

yes, i have heart palpitations but these came after a while of having panic attacks, i find that coughing or throwing freezing cold water on my face helps! started really about 6 years ago and comes and goes, through stress mostly!. The problem is although i am 90% sure it is a panic attack i am always worried that maybe its not and actually i have something wrong. you see i am waiting to find out if i need another operation for a current problem i have amd my parent has just had a heart attack so you see naturally i worry i have been to a&e twice now they have done ecg chest xray and blood tests and nothing i also suffer from ibs and acid reflux,
i am going back to the doc to try CBT, but i can understand your frustration, but you are not on your own, the worst is worrying that you are dying… but as i have been told it is a panic attack you will be ok

Thoughts?

Looks like you are a Christian from your avatar title, so the best thing is to pray — talk to God about it. Have your church’s prayer group pray for you too. God is in control, so you shouldn’t be afraid of anything. The Bible say, "Perfect love casts out fear." (First John 4:18). Be sure to yield to God and be humble and loving. Reading the Bible daily is important too. Christianity is about faith for sure, a trust, but with love too. This takes a maturity. This isn’t just a head thing, a knowing, but also a heart thing — a willingness to love and commit to God eternally. The most important factors I’m learning are faith, love, peace, hope, friendliness, caring, giving. and meekness, plus obedience. God is our Creator, all-knowing, all-powerful, eternal, holy, love. Mostly, God is love and He wants us to be love too and become like Jesus Christ, which takes obedience and faith that He can help us succeed to do His will. Our will needs to be yielded to His will. We need to accept Jesus into our life as our Lord and Savior forever to receive God’s blessing and forgiveness plus go to heaven. Having Jesus in your life means changing your life to accept His leadership — thus He is your Lord, and not just your Savior. He wants to change us to be more like Him. The more we love God, the more we can commit and be obedient. Spiritual maturity comes as we realize that life isn’t all about us. Most important is loving and helping God and others. I’m Lutheran and I like the Baptist churches too. Ways to stay on the project are going to church, reading the Bible daily, and daily prayer as needed. Some churches do a weekly Bible study group and these can be a good way to get committed to read the Bible often and keep going. Let God guide you. God bless.

Try chamomile tea. It’s a natural, medically tested relaxant, without the side effects.

If you don’t have ADD, caffeine will make anxiety worse.

And I couldn’t stop breathing heavily for about 3 minutes.
I couldn’t stop crying
I felt weak when I tried walking, like dizzy.
And I tried drinking water, and I couldn’t swallow.
The little that I did, make me feel sick.

Thanks

The biggest question you need to ask yourself is was there panic? Did you feel like you were dying? Were you terrified of something? Did you feel like you were going crazy? This is the worst part of a panic attack for me. It is possible to have a milder panic attack, though.

You showed the physical signs of a panic attack. They vary from person to person, but what you described is similar to what I experience when having a panic attack, so it is a distinct possibility, especially since you have GAD. Talk to your doctor and tell him/her about what you experienced. It is also possible that you were just extremely upset and cracked from the emotions you were feeling. Like I said, it would be best to talk to a doctor because believe me when I say that if you are experiencing panic attacks, you do not want them to get worse.

ensure he takes his medications and just make him feel comfortable and ensure he knows you will always be there by his side no matter what happens

also everyone in your family and you friends should be aware of his condition so they can always be there in case he has an attack

read the below link about dealing with this situation and make others close to you read it as well so they know how to act in case of an emergency.

best of luck

For a really good description of a panic attack, go to: http://www.medicinenet.com/panic_disorder/article.htm.
Symptoms of a panic attack may include:
racing or pounding heartbeat (palpitations);
chest pains;
stomach upset;
dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea;
difficulty breathing, a sense of feeling smothered;
tingling or numbness in the hands;
hot flashes or chills;
dreamlike sensations or perceptual distortions;
terror: a sense that something unimaginably horrible is about to occur and one is powerless to prevent it;
a need to escape;
fear of losing control and doing something embarrassing; and
fear of dying.
A panic attack typically lasts for several minutes, is one of the most distressing conditions that a person can experience, and its symptoms can closely mimic those of a heart attack.

To make things more complicated, what some people call anxiety attacks are what mental health professionals call panic attacks. Plus, many forms of anxiety have both emotional and physical symptoms. See http://helpguide.org/mental/anxiety_types_symptoms_treatment.htm.

he has had some serious attacks lately where out of nowhere like a cat he attacks me screaming hes dying…
tonight was enough that he was out of control and i could have crashed, i had to stop the car, restrain em and tell em hes not dying… anyone have solutions or info on how they treat this disorder for 12yr olds? i have experience with this type of thing and i was able to get em home and lay em down, go through breathing exercises etc.. he does not sleep and is wired n moody all day… i dont want too have a doctor give em zanax or valium or any benzos at the age of 12.. we are sending em for counseling, but we are wondering (due to his extreme acute symptoms that he said lasted all day up to the point of an attack) due to the duration that maybe a psych eval at a hospital may be warranted… as far as stressors, his dads a scumbag, and he recently has had a teacher at school clockin em all day at school… in other words, a teacher is on his rear end all the time as they can see his work habits with online internet homework/computer usage ratios.. they can tell that hes slacking on homework etc.. but this teacher has stopped by the house 2x in a week unannounced to discuss his irritable behavior ( lack of sleep) and outburts etc… sorry so long… pretty complex issue here… any advice is appreciated.. thanks!

He needs the right kind of evaluation, not just from anyone.. look up PNP dr lawlis as an example of a complete evaluation…
He should also have his hormones checked , as much mental illnesses is rooted in hormones out of balance or deficient..
here are some resources for you
Also, realize, simple food or chemical sensativities or allergies can cause all this… he should be tested for all of this