People face anxiety-causing situations regularly. Expectations at school, work, or home, as well as in relationships can be particularly troubling. Whether we’re about to take a big test at school, interview for a new job, or propose to our significant other, it’s normal to be nervous and experience what people refer to as “butterflies in the stomach”.
It’s different with anxiety disorders. You’re not just nervous. Your feelings don’t go away. In fact, the anxiety can get worse and can negatively affect your overall health. And for many of those people, those feelings are often accompanied by panic, often unexpected.
However, even though panic is a symptom often associated with anxiety, the American Psychological Association claims that only 1 in 75 people with anxiety ever experience panic. Of the 3 anxiety disorders—social phobia, general anxiety disorder, and panic disorder—panic disorder is, unsurprisingly, the one where panic manifests itself.
Symptoms of panic attacks include:
- Heart palpitations
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Fear of losing control
- Fear of dying
- Feeling detached from reality or oneself
On the other hand, generalized anxiety disorder symptoms can last for months and often include the following:
- Restlessness
- Feeling wound-up or on edge
- Fatigued
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Muscle tension
- Difficulty controlling the worry
- Sleep problems
A typical diagnosis for panic disorder or generalized anxiety involves having a combination of these (and possibly other) behaviours for at least 6 months.
Because people with panic disorder or generalized anxiety often ask for help with a specific symptom, doctors may not recognize the symptom as part of a larger condition. As a result, a diagnosis may not occur until after several visits.
If you think you have panic disorder or generalized anxiety, talk to your doctor about your symptoms. Get an exam to see if panic disorder or generalized anxiety is the true cause of your symptoms. Then see a mental health specialist for treatment.
With treatment, many people with anxiety can live normal lives unhindered by symptoms. Some can even find relief naturally. If you’re interested in natural treatment, talk to your doctor about Truehope EMPowerplus.