Know the Symptoms of Anxiety

Feelings of anxiousness or anxiety is a normal cognitive and physiological response designed to call our attention to the seriousness of an event or situation and motivate us to action, such as  Anxiety disorders are not mild and brief, but generally severe and chronic. Panic attacks, a consuming wave of fear and dread, are a common characteristic of anxiety disorders.



A panic attack is a sudden surge of overwhelming fear and anxiety that reaches a peak within minutes. The DSM-5 (manual for assessment and diagnosis of mental disorders) lists 13 potential symptoms of a panic attack:



• Increased heart rate
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Shortness of breath
• Feelings of choking
• Chest pain
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Chills or heat sensations
• Numbness or tingling
• Feelings of unreality or depersonalization
• Fear of losing control
• Fear of dying



Four or more of these symptoms must be present for the episode to be considered a panic attack. A panic attack may be a one-time occurrence in an individual’s life, but many people experience multiple episodes