Anxiety Attack

An anxiety attack is an episode of anxiety that comes on suddenly. If you're experiencing an anxiety attack, you may develop emotional symptoms like overwhelming fear or excessive worry and physical symptoms like shortness of breath and chest pain.

Everyone experiences some anxiety from time to time—and that's OK. However, if you're having anxiety attacks frequently, getting support from a mental healthcare provider and practicing mindfulness can improve your quality of life. 

Anxiety Attack Symptoms

Having an anxiety attack can be a scary experience. Anxiety can take over your whole body, causing a series of both emotional and physical symptoms.

With an anxiety attack, you may develop these emotional symptoms:

• Excessive worry
• Intense and overwhelming fear 
• Feeling like you're losing control
• A sense of impending doom
• Restlessness or nervousness
• Difficulty thinking

Physical symptoms can also occur alongside an anxiety attack, which may include:

• Excessive sweating
• A racing heart
• Shortness of breath
• Trembling or shaking
• Chest pain
• Nausea

Anxiety attacks are intense but temporary episodes that usually last between a few minutes and a couple of hours.

What Causes an Anxiety Attack?

It's common to experience anxiety about certain experiences or problems in your life. Maybe you have an important life event (such as your wedding) coming up or are worried about performing well on a test at school. These feelings are completely normal.

If you feel as though your anxiety attacks are disrupting your daily life constantly, it may be a sign of an underlying anxiety disorder.

The following anxiety disorders may cause frequent anxiety attacks:

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): Extreme worry or nervousness about everyday activities or events, even if there are no obvious or immediate threats
• Panic disorder: Causes unexpected and sudden panic attacks that can occur several times a week without any signs of imminent danger
• Phobias: Intense fears about various objects or experiences (e.g., fear of heights or spiders) that can cause anxiety attacks when you're exposed to the fear
  

Risk Factors

Anyone can develop anxiety, but some factors may increase your risk of experiencing an anxiety attack, such as:

• Having a family history of anxiety disorders
• Experiencing traumatic events
• Living with chronic stress
• Using substances excessively, such as stimulants or caffeine
• Possessing certain personality traits such as shyness or perfectionism
  

Diagnosis

If you're experiencing symptoms of anxiety or having frequent anxiety attacks, seeing a healthcare provider to learn more about your condition and diagnose you properly can help. Your provider can offer several treatment options and recommend prevention tactics to reduce your symptoms more effectively.

You might visit your primary healthcare provider (PCP) for an initial evaluation. However, they'll likely refer you to a mental health provider (such as a psychologist or psychiatrist) for additional testing. A mental health provider will perform a thorough psychological evaluation, ask about your symptoms, learn what may be triggering your anxiety attacks, and inquire about your personal and family medical history.

While there are no official lab tests (e.g., a blood test) that can diagnose you for an anxiety attack, your provider will use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to see if you meet the criteria for any underlying anxiety disorder.

Treatment

It can be overwhelming to receive a diagnosis for an anxiety disorder. It's important to know that you are not your diagnosis. Your diagnosis is just a new part of your life. That said, getting the right treatment for you can help reduce the severity and frequency of your anxiety attacks and improve your quality of life. Your healthcare provider will likely recommend the following treatment options:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): Helps restructure your thoughts by encouraging you to learn and develop problem-solving skills and effective coping strategies to reduce anxiety and fear
• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT): Reduces feelings of intense fear through strategies such as mindfulness and relaxation techniques
• Beta-blocker medications: Blood pressure medications that can also help relieve symptoms of an anxiety attack, such as trembling and a rapid heart rate
• Anti-anxiety medications: Treat generalized anxiety disorder to reduce feelings of anxiety and prevent anxiety attacks from occurring

In some cases, your healthcare team may also recommend antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. This may be the case if you're having anxious thoughts and depressive moods together, which is a common experience for many people.

How To Prevent an Anxiety Attack

You can’t always prevent an anxiety attack, as the nature of these episodes is sudden and unexpected. However, if you're experiencing anxiety attacks often, certain strategies can reduce the likelihood of future episodes. These include the following:

• Keep track of any common triggers and avoiding them if possible
• Practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques, such as meditation or yoga
• Prioritize sleep
• Get regular physical activity or exercise
• Lower your intake of alcohol and caffeine
• Eat multiple times throughout the day
• Try stress management techniques such as spending time with loved ones or doing a hobby you enjoy

Related Conditions

Many people with frequent anxiety attacks also have other mental health conditions that can occur alongside anxiety. If you have an anxiety disorder, you may also have a history of or be at higher risk for the following conditions:

• Depression 
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Bipolar disorder 
• Personality disorders
• Substance use disorder
• Eating disorders
  

Living With Anxiety Attacks

Anxiety attacks can affect many aspects of your daily life—and living in constant anxiety can be a scary and frustrating experience. People with anxiety disorders are more likely to use drugs and alcohol, have trouble staying employed, and experience conflict in their relationships. They may also avoid social events and other potentially enjoyable activities for fear of triggering an anxiety attack. 

The good news is that anxiety disorders are treatable. Psychotherapy and medication are highly effective in relieving symptoms and preventing future episodes. Your healthcare provider may also recommend other lifestyle adjustments such as trying mindfulness, getting enough sleep, going out in nature, and spending more time with loved ones. You may not find the cure to your anxiety attacks on day one, but staying the course and learning what works for you will be helpful in the long run.