With the stress in life becoming more intense than ever, anxiety and panic are affecting more and more people including the teenages. If you are currently coping with a stressful situation in life, it is likely that you will be struck by an anxiety attack. Mind you, though, having anxiety attack does not necessarily mean that you have an anxiety disorder or you should seek medications, but it is enough sign for you to pay attention to. Then, how do you know what you are suffering is an anxiety attack? Let us now look into the emotional and physical symptoms of anxiety attacks.

EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS

There are numerous emotional symptoms accompanying an anxiety attack, and the most common ones include:

- having ungrounded fear and excessive worry
- feeling of losing control of life
- being uneasy wherever you go as if you need an escape
- feeling insecure and unguarded
- becoming restless and edgy
- being over self-conscious and hyper-vigilant
- feeling confused and lacking concentration

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS

There are also numerous physical symptoms for you to look out for. These include:

- Heart Palpitations
This is a sensation of skipped or stopped heart beats, and you feel as though you are suffering an heart attack. This unpleasant palpitation often accompany emotional symptoms such as excessive fear, worry and excitement.

- Chest Pain
In the case of an anxiety attack, the chest pain can be as severe as the case with heart attacks. What you feel is a heaviness, pressure, or extreme discomfort in the chest area.

- Shortness of Breath
Short breath is usually associated with lack of oxygen in the brain, muscle or other organs in the body. Sometimes, emotional disorder will also lead to this symptom, and you will suffer difficulty in breathing as though all the air is taken away from you.

- Chills or Hot Flashes
This is a short period of hot or cold sensations in your upper body caused by emotional distress.

- Nausea, Vomiting or Diarrhea
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can all be triggered by a host of emotional conditions such as pain, panic, worries and irritations.

- Sweating
Yes, sweating is not just a natural response to high temperature or exercise. It can also be caused by emotional disorders including anger, embarrassment, nervousness, fear or anxiety.

- Dizzy Spells and Tremors
If you often feel light-headed without any other symptoms, the symptom is more likely to be emotion-related. Taking anti-anxiety medications can help reduce severe dizziness.

Apart from what was mentioned above, other common physical symptoms include fatigue, insomnia, headaches and muscle aches.

If you have concerns over whether you are suffering anxiety, check yourself against these emotional and physical symptoms of anxiety attacks first. When you go to the doctor, it is likely that you will first be screened against any possible physical problems before being referred to a psychiatrist or psychologist. The possible solutions that will be recommended include traditional medications, behavioral therapy, or simply self-help if your condition is only minor.