There is no need to minimize how much anxiety can affect you. It’s something that can completely disrupt your life. But still, of all types and presentations of anxiety, there is something about panic attacks that can be especially challenging.
Panic attacks are a mental health issue with many anxiety-related symptoms, such as worry, fear, stress, etc. Still, it’s the physical symptoms that often feel the most severe, and they *are* severe. For example:
- Pounding heart.
- Trouble breathing.
- Chest pains.
- Lightheadedness.
Those that have had panic attacks for a long time may experience even more symptoms brought on by this recurring stress, like eye pain, which may occur not only when the person is experiencing the attack but even when they’re not in the middle of an anxiety attack.
These are really symptoms that can be so severe that a person unaware they’re having a panic attack may go to the hospital, worried they are in the middle of a health crisis.
That’s not the whole story though.
Not only are these symptoms real, but there’s another issue at play that can complicate things further. Panic attacks and anxiety also make someone more aware of their symptoms, to the point where the symptoms feel worse both mentally and physically.
It’s something we don’t experience all the time. For example, when we’re running, we don’t always think about how hard are heart is working or how strong it’s beating because we’re focused on running. Our heart can feel like it’s pounding out of our chest, but we’re feeling all the sensations of running and so we may notice it’s beating, but not how strong it’s beating.
With panic attacks, it’s different. Anxiety makes us far more aware of our sensations. It focuses on them. This level of focus causes them to feel more severe than we would otherwise. That same pounding heart you feel when you’re running would instead feel like it’s pounding out of your chest, trying to escape. That same chest pain that you get with indigestion now feels like a sharper, more intense pain.
But that’s not all.
In addition, because we’re already primed for anxiety, that greater intensity of symptoms then creates more anxiety. We often not only feel symptoms that are stronger than they should be, but we also are more likely to feel anxious about those symptoms, leading to further anxiety and, in some cases, a worsening of symptoms – like a cycle.
Awareness of the way that we’re feeling when we have panic attacks and panic disorder can, in many ways, make the symptoms worse. That is why breaking the cycle is such an important part of addressing the panic attack related issues.
If you need help, please reach out to me today. I have 30 years of experience supporting clients with panic attacks and anxiety related symptoms, and I’m here to help you with breaking this cycle and taking control of your mental health. Call today.