What Is an Anxiety Attack? Signs and Symptoms Explained

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, 5th Edition (or DSM-5) is the main reference tool used by mental health professionals. The DSM-5 does not specifically list anxiety attacks as a formal diagnosis. Instead, they’re considered to be more of a subjective feeling than a formal condition. 

Often confused with panic attacks, anxiety attacks share similar symptoms reported by those who struggle with them. While they may overlap some, they’re not actually the same condition.

What Is an Anxiety Attack?

An anxiety attack is the result of your body responding to stress. When your body is triggered by a perceived threat, it naturally releases hormones that prepare it to either fight or flee. Adrenaline and cortisol are two of the hormones that help your body enter self-preservation mode. 

Under normal circumstances, this fight-or-flight mode would make sense. When it comes to anxiety attacks, your stress response is being triggered unnecessarily for situations where there is no immediate threat. You may experience a variety of symptoms that interfere with your ability to function properly.

Signs of an Anxiety Attack

During an anxiety attack, you may feel a rush of symptoms that are rather alarming. In some instances, you may actually feel like you’re experiencing a medical emergency rather than a response to stress. 

Physical Symptoms

The sudden release of adrenaline and cortisol are responsible for any physical symptoms you experience. Common symptoms include:

• Difficulty breathing

• A rapid heart rate

• A drop in blood pressure

• Nausea

• Shakiness

• Lightheadedness

• Cold sweating

• Numbness and tingling

After looking at that list, it can be easy to see how anxiety attacks are mistaken for medical issues. 

Emotional Symptoms

Aside from the physical symptoms, you may also experience changes to your mood as your body goes through the attack. When your body starts to get out of whack, it can feel a bit unnerving.

Emotional symptoms can include: 

• Feeling a sense of dread

• Feeling tense

• Feeling panicky

• Having an urge to cry

• An inability to find comfort and calm 

What Causes an Anxiety Attack?

Under normal circumstances, when you’re experiencing stress, the development of anxiety is slower and more gradual. The buildup of stress creates more consistent anxiety. While some anxiety is normal, you shouldn’t be feeling it long term or severely.

Anxiety attacks are triggered by stress and perceived danger. As your anxiety reaches its peak, this is where an attack is more likely. If your attacks are more sudden and out of left field, they’re more likely to be panic attacks. 

Anxiety attacks are personal experiences, and the underlying causes will differ from person to person. There are studies that show a link to genetic factors. Trauma is another big determining factor. It’s also possible that a stressful day-to-day life, between environmental demands and the physical conditions you operate in, could be contributing to these anxiety attacks.

In addition, triggers can include social anxiety, substance use/withdrawal, caffeine use, side effects of medications, phobias, situational stress, and chronic pain/illness. 

Getting Help

Depending on the severity of your anxiety attacks, that will dictate the course of your treatment. When your anxiety attacks are occurring more frequently, medication management (antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications, for example) may be the recommended option. 

If you’re interested in non-medication management options, avenues you can explore include relaxation exercises, breathing exercises, mindfulness practices, exercise, and self-care. 

In some instances, you may need a bit of guidance from a professional who is trained in managing situations like this. If you’re experiencing anxiety attacks that you can’t get under control, therapy may be a good option for you. Contact me to schedule a consultation.