- Why do we find it so difficult to control anxiety?
- Why do we find it so difficult to control anxiety?
- What triggers an anxiety attack, both emotionally and physically?
- What triggers an anxiety attack, both emotionally and physically?
- What are the first symptoms?
- What are the first symptoms?
- Can an anxiety attack be prevented?
- Can an anxiety attack be prevented?
- If we start to notice the first symptoms, what should we do?
- If we start to notice the first symptoms, what should we do?
- Are the symptoms the same for everyone? In other words, if we've had one anxiety attack, should we look for the same symptoms to detect a second one?
- Are the symptoms the same for everyone? In other words, if we've had one anxiety attack, should we look for the same symptoms to detect a second one?
- What should we never do if we are having an anxiety attack?
- What should we never do if we are having an anxiety attack?
- What should I do to avoid self-harm when I have an anxiety attack?
- What should I do to avoid self-harm when I have an anxiety attack?
- How can we help someone having an anxiety attack? Should we give them space, or should we hug and comfort them?
- How can we help someone having an anxiety attack? Should we give them space, or should we hug and comfort them?
- Can everyone have an anxiety attack, or are some people more prone to it?
- Can everyone have an anxiety attack, or are some people more prone to it?
- What guidelines do you give to prevent anxiety attacks?
- What guidelines do you give to prevent anxiety attacks?
- Are the symptoms of an anxiety attack in children different from those in adults?
- Are the symptoms of an anxiety attack in children different from those in adults?
- What tools can we apply during an anxiety crisis manifested by stomach pain, vomiting, or crying that can cause a rapid mood improvement in a 12-year-old adolescent girl?
- Is there a phrase or keyword that can help someone experiencing a crisis? If we agree on that phrase or word with them beforehand, can it help?
- Is there a phrase or keyword that can help someone experiencing a crisis? If we agree on that phrase or word with them beforehand, can it help?
- Which people are more likely to experience anxiety before an exam or a job interview?
- Which people are more likely to experience anxiety before an exam or a job interview?
- Can an anxiety attack cause a rise in blood pressure?
- Can an anxiety attack cause a rise in blood pressure?
- If we have persistent anxiety attacks over time, can we develop heart problems?
- If we have persistent anxiety attacks over time, can we develop heart problems?
- Can an anxiety attack be masking a physical ailment? How can we tell if physical pain is truly caused by anxiety?
- Can an anxiety attack be masking a physical ailment? How can we tell if physical pain is truly caused by anxiety?
- In the event of an anxiety attack during a game or sporting competition, how should the coaches act?
- What is the relationship between anxiety and social phobia?
- As nurses, how can we help in an anxiety crisis?
- Often we're tempted to intervene, but sometimes less is more... And I understand that someone experiencing an anxiety attack also needs their space. What do you recommend not doing? What mistakes do you think healthcare professionals make most frequently?
- How can we manage an anxiety attack in the 10 or 12 minutes we have available in a consultation to see patients? Are there any express tools for professional support and help?
What are the first symptoms?
The symptoms of an anxiety attack can vary from person to person and sometimes even from one person to another, but they are generally very similar and well-described. We know that a panic attack, or anxiety attack, is an adaptive response of our body to a dangerous situation; that is, it's a response that can be useful in the face of danger because it prepares us to fight or flee. However, in the case of an attack, the response is triggered "when it shouldn't be" and in a disproportionate way, which is why it frightens us. It's important to understand that, although the symptoms are very unpleasant, they are not dangerous because they are programmed to save our lives in the face of real danger.
Thus, for example, everything necessary to save life is activated, such as the heart (hence we may feel tachycardia, palpitations, rise in blood pressure), breathing accelerates (dry mouth, hyperventilation, which can lead to dizziness), muscle tension increases (sometimes causing tremors, restlessness, rigidity), blurred vision or a feeling of unreality appears (the pupils dilate to focus attention on the danger), and what is not necessary at that moment is deactivated, such as digestion (sometimes one may have a feeling of nausea or diarrhea).
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