Symptoms of an anxiety attack are easy to spot if you know what to look for.
However, they can easily be mistaken for nothing more than a scary incident.
In this article, I'll show you exactly how to figure out if you've had an attack and could be at risk for getting another one in the future.
Extremely Intense The first thing to remember about an anxiety attack is that it is a very intense experience.
It is not the same as being in a somewhat scary or frightening experience.
It is much more than that.
During a panic attack you will experience extremely intense physical symptoms and feel that you have totally lost control.
It will rank up there as one of the most terrifying experiences of your life.
Already now you should have some idea whether you have ever experienced a real attack before or not.
Increased Heart Rate The heart rate normally goes through the roof thanks to the adrenalin release in your body.
Many people describe feeling that their heart was going to explode or use similar language.
Along with such palpitations you may also experience or believe that your heart is out of rhythm and skipping beats.
Chest Pains Some people also get chest pains.
It's worth remembering that the chest pains during an anxiety attack do not indicate any physical damage.
The chest pain with a heart attack is very different - it is a severe "crushing" pain and most people who have anxiety attacks do not experience this type of pain.
Perspiration Again, a result of the adrenalin release is profuse sweating.
It is not uncommon for someone to break out into beads of sweat in just a few seconds.
Feelings Anxiety attacks are closely linked to thoughts and emotions.
Most people have an immense fear of foreboding or dread, that they are going to die (even though they cannot logically explain it) and feel almost completely out of control.