Social Anxiety October 25, 2009
Posted by janey in : anxiety self help , trackbackSudden anxiety panic attacks are seemingly out of the blue and unprovoked. They are very intense and frightening experiences. Sufferers report that they sense a surging feeling of fear and terror wash all over them.
Symptoms of an attack also include a rapid pounding heartbeat, shortness of breath, chest pains and obsessive thoughts of embarrassment, fear and worry. Dread and fear of something bad happening is a common symptom too.
Panic attacks are usually linked to panic disorder and specific phobias such as agoraphobia. The severity of agoraphobia is varied and in some cases sufferers are able to lead fairly normal lives.
Agoraphobia sufferers may avoid places that are difficult to escape from like a crowded mall or an elevator. They fear that they might experience an anxiety panic attack and lose control.
Although attacks may seem out of the blue, they are just the result of the body’s stress response system. In caveman times when humans hunted prey, the stress response was vital to man’s survival.
The fight or flight response triggers increase in heart rate and blood pressure, a boost in adrenaline and energy. Essentially this would make the hunter ready to stand and fight or flee. Our brain chemistry has remained mostly unchanged even after thousands of years.
Although many scientists believe that the stress response is the cause for many anxiety disorders it does have its uses. The argumentation is that the fight of flight response is frequently and unnecessarily activated.
It’s not likely that you’re going to be hunted down by a lion but it could save you from a thief or a dangerous situation. The negative is that excessive production of hormones such as adrenaline can be damaging for the mind and body. This can sometimes lead to anxiety disorders developing.
Mental illnesses can sometimes be debilitating making life diffciult to cope with. Luckily there are treatments available for anxiety disorders. What’s more, there are therapies and techniques to help deal with anxiety and depression.
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