The Murky Waters of Anxiety
Anxiety taken to the heightened level of panic attacks can in itself be a disabling disorder…and a frightening one. A sufferer of this sneaky disorder never knows when a panic attack will sweep over him or her like a tidal wave. And, the fear of having a panic attack only adds to the anxiety. But, along with this, the sufferer needs to be extra cautious that panic attack symptoms are actually a panic attack and not symptoms of another more serious illness.
Panic attack symptoms can range from a racing heart, shortness of breath, to pins and needles in the limbs or throughout the body. As mentioned above the symptoms are frightening – your body goes into an overdrive mode of fight or flight. It’s as if Godzilla is alive and glaring down with mouth open ready to devour you. And, you are panic stricken and frozen. Your heart feels like it will explode out of your chest, you can feel a pressure on your chest, you begin to hyperventilate, you get shaky and disoriented, you’re sure you’re going to die…
Sounds terrifying, doesn’t it? Well, that’s not the worse part. A true anxiety attack will last for a certain amount of time – maybe 10-20 minutes. If you don’t over hyperventilate and pass out, your heart will begin to slow down, your breathing will stabilize, and you will start to feel relief. What a panic attack sufferer needs to be aware of is that those symptoms may be due to something other than severe anxiety. This is where anxiety can be like being in murky water – you can’t actually see what’s going on underneath.
There are a number of illnesses and disorders that have similar symptoms to panic attacks. Illnesses such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome CFS), Fibromyalgia (FM), Multiple Sclerosis and Heart Disease can produce a racing heart, pins and needles, pressure or pain in the chest, shakiness, and a number of other frightening symptoms. A problem arises when the panic attack sufferer doesn’t acknowledge that he/she may have a serious health problem.
Not being absolutely certain that your panic attacks are actually anxiety related panic attacks can be dangerous. A number of disabling illnesses such as Heart Disease can be deadly if not diagnosed and treated promptly. An illness such a Multiple Sclerosis can worsen and lead to much more disabling symptoms such as limb weakness, balance issues, sight disturbances, and even movement problems. Being diagnosed as soon as possible is essential. The same holds true for CFS and FM, if properly diagnosed, a protocol and medications can help alleviate some of the symptoms.
If you suffer from panic attacks, you need to find a doctor who is willing to search for the cause of the symptoms. Starting with your general practitioner is step one. You might also think about seeing a neurologist and rheumatologist. Don’t accept being dismissed – find a doctor who takes you and your symptoms seriously.
Always remember, knowledge is power and in certain circumstances it can mean the difference between life and death.
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Until next time,
Karen Cioffi
Author, Ghostwriter, Freelance Writer, Reviewer