Having frequent panic attacks can feel like being in prison.
Also called anxiety attacks, panic attacks can be very scary.
They can also ruin your life, causing you to lose your job or disrupt relationships.
Happily, there is a way of out the prison that you are in.
Symptoms: Symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks include: * Racing heartbeat * Sweaty hands * Feeling of impending doom or like you are going to die * Nausea * Tingling or numbness in the chest, neck, hands or face * Hyperventilating * Difficulty concentrating on mundane tasks Causes: There can be a range of causes of panic and anxiety attacks, including: * Situations that trigger buried memories of negative past events * A recent traumatic event such as a personal attack or a car accident * A problem with your thyroid * Agoraphobia (fear of open spaces) or other known anxieties Prevention: Panic and anxiety attacks can be prevented in a number of ways, such as: * Avoiding the situations that cause them (note: this is a good short-term solution only) * Getting therapy to come to terms with past events that could be triggering the attacks * Getting your thyroid checked by a doctor * Working through your fears so that you can overcome their effects Anxiety and panic attacks can be very scary and can even put your life on hold needlessly.
With a number of possible symptoms, causes, and methods of prevention, it is important that you face your panic attack problem head-on so that you can break free from its effects and get on with your life.