- Why do we find it so difficult to control anxiety?
- What triggers an anxiety attack, both emotionally and physically?
- What are the first symptoms?
- Can an anxiety attack be prevented?
- 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?
- 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?
- 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?
- What guidelines do you give to prevent anxiety attacks?
- 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?
- 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?
- 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?
- 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 triggers an anxiety attack, both emotionally and physically?
Often, what triggers a crisis is a situation we've already identified as "dangerous." For example, if I have a crisis on the subway, I might identify the subway as a potential trigger, and that could lead me to avoid taking the subway altogether or cause a new crisis to occur if I do. That's why sometimes the trigger is a thought. Thinking "What if it happens to me?" sets off the alarm bells again.
We could say that our danger alarm is too fine; that is, this response, which can be useful to save our lives in the face of danger, appears when it is not appropriate or is too intense, so it is no longer useful to us and can greatly limit our lives.
Anxiety tends to anticipate a catastrophic future, even if it never actually happens. Other times, however, a person struggles to identify a trigger, and this is what we call unexpected crises. In these instances, the trigger is usually a physical sensation. For example, when someone hasn't slept well and feels uneasy, or if a woman is menstruating, or if we have a cold, or if we hear a loud noise, or in emotionally charged situations (movies, etc.). All of these affect our bodies and can also set off an alarm.
This is why an attack is so difficult to control (it comes when it wants). In fact, often the more we try, the more nervous we become because it's so difficult, and the more we focus on the symptoms, the more anxiety it causes . What we can control is how we deal with the fear so that it doesn't limit our lives.
