Friday, October 9, 2009

Anxiety Symptoms Telltale Signs of Anxiety Problems

By Laurie Faria

Anxiety attack is a serious medical condition that affects the lives of millions of Americans. The condition is characterized by an extreme onset of fear, anxiety and/or panic that usually lasts for several minutes. It can occur randomly or can be triggered by specific situations. In any case, identifying the symptoms of the condition is the first step towards a solution. Listed below are the common symptoms associated with anxiety attacks.

1. Struggling to speak. People who are having an anxiety attack may fumble on their words and may not respond normally to a query. The reason behind this is that the stress caused by the attack overwhelms them making it difficult for them to focus and think clearly.

2. Muscle tightness. Sufferers often experience tightness of their muscles. Tightness often occurs in the chest area causing chest pains and difficulty in breathing.

3. Always in a hurry. This is a common symptom of anxiety disorders that is often taken for granted. Sufferers may be seen moving in a frenetic pace since they always feel restless and agitated.

4. Tingling sensation in the hands and feet. This is a sign that indicates that a person is close to experience a panic attack. This is caused by a lack of oxygen circulating in the body due to shallow breathing.

5. Heart palpitations or a racing heart. People who are about to have an anxiety attack often feel like their "heart is about to beat out of their chest." Increased heart rate and elevated blood pressure are common anxiety symptoms.

6. Increased appetite for comfort foods. Sufferers usually relieve their feelings by eating fatty and sweet foods. These foods only make the problem worse since they only provide a short-term relief to stress. After the effect wears off, sufferers will return to their previous state or may even feel worse off.

7. Extreme fatigue. Constant stress on the mind and body from an anxiety attack or anxiety problems can leave the person feeling worn out and extremely fatigued. Anxiety triggers several chemical reactions in the body that directly affect the central nervous system. This can leave the person feeling drained of energy, and unable to get enough rest to recover.

Anxiety symptoms vary from person to person, and may be more pronounced in some people than in others. The intensity and effects of an anxiety attack can occur based on the person's chemical makeup, frequency of other attacks, and other factors. Recognizing these symptoms as they happen can help to understand what is triggering an anxiety attack or general feelings of anxiety, and what needs to be done to correct the problem.

Even though anxiety can cause many physical, emotional and social problems, most anxiety problems can be corrected with lifestyle changes, dietary supplements or medical intervention. - 16890

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