Anxiety Physical Symptoms - The Physical Symptoms To Expect During an Anxiety Attack

Anxiety physical symptoms ares no doubt debilitating and sometimes even later misdiagnosed as a medical disorder -- this causes even more confusion and fear. What are some of the common physical symptoms experienced during an attack?

Sudden and unexpected feelings occur during an Anxiety attack which causes helplessness and fear. Attacks can even occur at night, called nocturnal anxiety attacks. 3 million people or over 1% of the U.S. population experience attacks in some form and at some stage of their lives. This is no doubt a serious problem plaguing the United States and can be triggered by a number of things including life-changing events, physical illness, and even pregnancy.

The following are very common anxiety physical symptoms:

• Sweating moderately or profusely
• Trembling or shaking uncontrollably
• Shortness of breath and or a "smothering"
• Feeling of choking
• Nausea or abdominal distress
• Feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
• Feelings of unreality
• Detachment from oneself
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Fear of losing control or going crazy
• Palpitations or a pounding heart
• Numbness or tingling sensations
• Chills or hot flushes

When an anxiety attack occurs, any of these symptoms can occur without notice. The more common symptoms include heart pounding and sweatiness. Weakness, dizziness and faintness and chest pain can also occur. A sense of fear can often accompany an attack.

Some anxiety attacks can last up to 10 minutes but a more common length of time is a couple of minutes.

Anxiety attacks are often diagnosed as an anxiety disorder. An anxiety disorder is likely to occur more frequently and without warning and can be manifested from something more serious such as depression or alcohol abuse. Often anxiety disorders can turn into a phobia. For example, if an attack occurs when going up a stairway, a phobia of stairways may develop and continue to be experienced if not addressed.

Anxiety attacks should not be dismissed as coincidence. Although many people that experience attacks may never see one again. You should heed warning if continuation occurs.

To you, the physical symptoms of an anxiety attack can seem very overwhelming and wrongfully diagnosed as a medical disorder. But please don't despair, ask for help. Talking to your physician is a must in order help you better manage or even eliminate the frequency of your attacks.