How Can I Tell If I’m Having an Anxiety Attack?

I have often asked; how can I tell if I'm having an anxiety attack? And of course the first response is that you will start to feel anxious, what the heck, I think I already know that, I'm not a complete idiot. What I really want to know when I ask, how can I tell if I'm having an anxiety attack is what exactly are the symptoms and what can I do about them?

After doing countless hours of research on my own I have finally think that I have a handle on what to expect and what to do when experiencing an anxiety attack. Here is what you can expect to happen:

• Feeling anxious; well of course
• Your heart may start racing, may even seem like a heart attack
• The palms of your hands may become sweaty
• A tingling or numbness in your fingers, arms, shoulders, or neck
• You may feel really cold or hot
• You may have a hard time breathing with pain in your chest
• You can also feel nauseous and need to urgently go to the bathroom

Usually an attack will pass on its own accord but there is no way to tell how long it will last. They may last a few minutes or hours or even last all day. If you think you may be having an anxiety attack, especially if you are having chest pains or a racing heart, you should see a doctor. You really don't want to think you are only having anxiety when you are having a heart attack.

You now know what to expect from these attacks now it is time to find out exactly what you can do to help you when the symptoms begin. My research has revealed a few things that you can do to help relieve the symptoms. Here they are:

• Repeat affirmative statements to yourself such as: I will be alright, nothing is going to hurt me, or I can get through this.

• Change the direction of your thoughts; when an attack comes, your thoughts may become wild and almost uncontrollable. Reverse that pattern by thinking of things that are everyday occurrences for you, such as, being with your family or loved ones.

• Deep breathing exercises are very helpful in helping you to cope with your attacks. Practice breathing deeply in through your nose, hold for 2 or 3 seconds and then release your breath slowly. You must practice this when you are not anxious as this will prepare you for when you really need it.

I sincerely hope that this answers the question; how can I tell if I'm having an anxiety attack, and also help you in knowing what to do when one strikes. There are a lot of programs out there that can be very helpful and work without you ever having to see doctors or even leave the comfort of your own home. Most of these programs are available through the Internet and are very easy to access. So, the next time you ask yourself how can I tell if I'm having an anxiety attack you can just start up your computer and find the answer.