The symptoms of anxiety attacks are overwhelmingly frightening. They can occur without any apparent warning, and when they do they are utterly devastating to the victim. Anxiety attacks — or panic attacks as they are also called — can leave the sufferer with a real conviction that they are having a heart attack or that they are about to die.

The symptoms of anxiety attacks, although extremely frightening, cannot harm you. In fact the symptoms are just the body’s own normal reaction to the victim’s irrational fears of some ‘impending doom’.

Seven typical symptoms of anxiety attacks are:-

1. Tightness in the chest and throat.

2. Heart palpitations, pounding heart, or irregular heartbeat.

3. Irregular breathing, shortness of breath.

4. Dizziness, light headedness.

5. Feeling of detachment from reality, disorientation.

6. Tingling sensation in fingers, feet etc.

7. And while you’re feeling the physical symptoms above, you have a real feeling of ‘impending doom’.

(A word of caution here. Whilst the above are some of the more common symptoms of an anxiety attack, they can also be symptoms of other medical conditions. Always consult your doctor, don’t self-diagnose.)

Now, although these attacks can occur out of nowhere, they have an underlying cause or ‘trigger’ which may have occurred hours before the actual event. Stress or general anxiety is the platform upon which an attack is based. Then all it takes is for something to trigger the actual attack.

So there are two components here, the underlying general anxiety, and, the trigger that brings about an attack. Often times this trigger is just the fear of another attack itself, and you may have this fear without even realizing it.

It doesn’t matter how hard you try to get rid of your general anxiety: if the fear of having another attack is always present, there is nothing to prevent it happening again and again. It’s a vicious cycle. And repeated attacks can have severe consequences for your well-being and quality of life. You need to get rid of the fear of the symptoms of anxiety attacks first, then, eliminate the general anxiety.

Panic attacks, also known as anxiety attacks are unexpected reactions of powerful anxiety accompanied by escalating physiological symptoms that will be discussed in further detail below. Panic attacks are associated with an array of somatic and cognitive symptoms and are essentially a response of the sympathetic nervous system. These intense physiological experiences can be brought on very quickly, and often with no apparent reason.

Why Do Panic Attacks Happen

Though panic attacks generally appear to take place at random, they are actually a part of a natural human response commonly known as “fight or flight” that just happen to take place out of turn. Fight or flight reflexes inundate the body with hormones (including adrenaline) that are intended to help it protect itself from danger. It has been said that suffering a panic attack is one of the scariest, most distressing and uncomfortable experiences a human being can endure.

What are the Signs of an Attack

Below is a list of the most common panic attack symptoms. Diagnostic criteria for a true attack state that at least four of the below symptoms must be experienced, that the symptoms must have been developed abruptly, and that they must have reached a peak within 10 minutes of their onset.

Increased heart rate, intense pounding of the heart or palpitations

Profuse perspiration

Trembling or shaking of the body including limbs, digits, shoulders or lips

Shortness of breath or the sensation of being smothered

Sensation of choking

Discomfort or pain in the chest area

Abdominal stress, pain or nausea

Feelings of dizziness, wobbliness, lightheadedness or weakness

Feeling of loss of touch with reality or loss of touch with self (depersonalization)

Feelings of loss of control or fear of going insane

Intense fear of dying or feeling that you are dying

Numbness or tingling throughout the body

Waves of intense cold (chills) or heat (hot flashes)

Intense feelings of terror or dread

How Long Does an Episode Last

The American Psychological Association states that the symptoms of a panic attack typically last for about half an hour. It is not uncommon, however, for panic attacks to be as short as 15 minutes in duration. On the other hand, some people suffer from series of panic attacks that can go on to add up to hours at a time.

Have You Had Panic Attacks

After reading about panic attacks, including information about symptoms and duration, you should have a pretty good idea if what you have experienced is a true panic attack. Review the list of symptoms again, and ask yourself: did what you experience include at least four of the listed signs of anxiety attacks Also, does your episode fall within the range of duration that is deemed common for true panic attacks

Even though you’re getting a good start on knowing what’s going on in your body by reading this, you should speak with a medical professional if you think you may be experiencing these attacks. Your doctor knows you best and will be able to properly diagnose what you are experiencing if it is indeed an anxiety attack. Your physician will also be able to recommend a course of treatment for you as well as suggest ways to prevent these episodes in the future. A qualified medical professional should also be able to advise you on what you should do in the future should you begin to experience another one of these types of attacks.

There is a marked shift today from allopathic medicine to alternative medication especially herbal medicine. If you are among those who would prefer natural cures, there are plenty to choose from that would help you control and reverse anxiety symptoms. Herbal medication works on the system overall, unlike allopathic treatment, which only aims at correcting the diseases causing chemical imbalance in the body. The result is that though the cure is a little slower comparatively, the side effects are less pronounced.

Unfortunately, the FDA does not approve many of the herbal supplements though many are excellent products. This is one reason why some people hesitate to use herbal medication, though they are not comfortable with the traditional medicines prescribed for this condition. You would be heartened to know that following the extraordinary increase in the demand for herbal medication special organizations came into existence, which work on the same lines as FDA but limit themselves only to classify herbal products and supplements. Whenever you are tempted to buy anything related to herbs, it would be a good thing if you run a scan on the product through these agencies.

One other way to choose the best herbal products is to follow the popularity charts of the leading brands. Most of these companies offer excellent products yet do not go for the certification of any of the above organization simply because this does not cover all the aspects of the product. For example, the certification would look into the potency of the medicines, percentage of the herbs face to face to the claims on the labels, and they would look into the hygiene aspects of manufacturing and packaging.

However, none of the above really offers any guarantee or enlightenment on whether the product really works as per the claims made by the manufacturing company. Therefore, the major brands, which already enjoy the confidence of the masses and have a proven track, do not find it necessary to obtain the certification, which presently comes costly.

Many herbs work miracles with anxiety. I am bringing to your knowledge in the following few lines only a few of the most common ones. I am intentionally not providing dosages or methods of use, because I feel that anyone who wishes to use any type of medication should do so with the express advice and close monitoring of his or her medical practitioner. In case of herbal medicines, you would require to see a herbologist or a certified aurvedic practitioner. In most cases, you would have the choice of having your medicine specifically made for you, which is often a good option. However, if this does not appeal to you, you could always use the supplements and products available in the market.

It is important to note here that many herbal products use a combination of two or more of the herbs described below to boost the effect on the treatment of anxiety and depression. Attempting to have your own concoction at home, armed only with information from the Net can backfire terribly. For customized medicine, which is highly recommended, you need to take the assistance of qualified herbalists or ayurvedic doctors. Do not, under any circumstances, go for the trial and error method using your own self as a guinea pig. You might get worse before getting better, and you would definitely not profit from such an experience.