What​​ is anxiety?

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• Anxiety is the natural response to stress our body produces. 

• Anxiety is the fear of what’s to come (feeling of nervousness)

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 Symptoms of anxiety

• increased heart rate

• rapid breathing

• restlessness

• trouble concentrating

• difficulty falling asleep

• nervousness, restlessness, or being tense

• feelings of danger, panic, or dread

• rapid heart rate

• rapid breathing, or hyperventilation

• increased or heavy sweating

• trembling or muscle twitching

• weakness and lethargy

• difficulty focusing or thinking clearly about anything other than the thing you’re worried about

• insomnia

• digestive or gastrointestinal problems, such as gas, constipation, or diarrhea

• a strong desire to avoid the things that trigger your anxiety

• obsessions about certain ideas, a sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

• performing certain behaviors over and over again

• anxiety surrounding a particular life event or experience that has occurred in the past, especially indicative of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

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Symptoms of anxiety can be totally different from someone else’s. This why it’s important to know all the ways anxiety can present itself. 

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 What is a panic attack?

A panic attack is a quick onset of fear or distress that peaks in minutes. 

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 panic attack symptoms

• palpitations

• sweating

• shaking or trembling

• feeling shortness of breath or smothering

• sensation of choking

• chest pains or tightness

• nausea or gastrointestinal problems

• dizziness, light-headedness, or feeling faint

• feeling hot or cold

• numbness or tingling sensations (paresthesia)

• feeling detached from oneself or reality, known as depersonalization and derealization

• fear of “going crazy” or losing control

• fear of dying

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Panic attacks make a person feel they have to avoid the location the attack happened at. It is unknown as to what causes anxiety, however, doctors believe it is triggered through trauma. 

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