For someone who has never had an anxiety attack it's almost impossible to ask 'what does an anxiety attack feel like?' and then give themselves a realistic answer. Even for someone who thinks they have had one it's hard to be sure if that's what it actually was. By understanding the physiology behind an anxiety attack and comparing this to your individual traits you may be able to work out what your response to anxiety is most likely to be.

Firstly, a panic attack will come about as a reaction to something you are intensely scared of, worried about, in anticipation of or overwhelmed by. It doesn't have to be about something you dread, such as seeing a bird if you have a mortal fear of them. You might, for instance, have a panic attack the day before moving into your dream home simply because it's the day you've been waiting for and you're so nervous that something will spoil it. What causes your panic attack is pivotal in helping you stop them, but what's even more pivotal is your reaction to that cause. An anxiety attack is always caused by irrational thoughts towards a perceived threat, often mixed in with a lack of self confidence about how you can tackle the issue.

So when that perceived threat gets too much or you are faced with it head on something needs to happen. Your body is telling you to either run from it or fight it now, but you want to do neither. You know it needs to be tackled but doing that is so scary and you are suddenly thrown into a panic attack. A panic attack needn't start with a bang; it might start first thing in the morning in anticipation of a job interview after lunch, or a meal out with friends in the evening. You might have lost your appetite, keep needing to go to the toilet and feel tired, shaky and dizzy. This isn't exactly a panic attack, but it can be if your symptoms are particularly severe and you feel that this is, indeed, what you are experiencing.

Defining a panic attack is hard but for most people, the answer to 'what does an anxiety attack feel like?' and 'when does an anxiety attack begin and end?' is when the person has difficulty breathing, they feel as if they are suffocating or cannot catch their breath. This is a physiological reaction to the amount of adrenaline rushing through their system and often their chests or throat will feel tight and they are literally gasping for air. This is scary for the sufferer and everyone around them and what they are also likely to be experiencing is shakiness, fear, sweating, light headedness, a pounding heart and nausea. Mentally, they will most likely feel completely desperate for relief, confused at what is happening and utterly terrified.

If you or someone you know is worried about anxiety attacks or thinks that they have been experiencing anxiety attacks then it's best to get in touch with a professional therapist who can answer the question 'what does an anxiety attack feel like' at the same time as helping the individual to stop them happening again.

Stan Tian

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