An anxiety attack is sometimes called a panic attack and is classified as periods of severe fear or panic, which happen suddenly and last anywhere from a few minutes up to an hour. Some people find that anxiety attacks are brought on by a trigger such as stress or trauma, but many people find that the attack comes from nowhere and has no obvious cause.
Anxiety attacks can be terrifying as they often cause people to feel that they have lost control or are in immediate danger. Here we explore the symptoms and possible causes of anxiety attacks, as well as any potential anxiety therapy that is available.
What are the symptoms of an anxiety attack?
Anxiety attacks bring a feeling of fear, panic, loss of control, or irrational worry, but they often also involve intense physical symptoms that are not dissimilar to those of a heart attack. You may experience pain in your chest, heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, or a sense that you are choking, and/or you may feel as if you are losing consciousness. Some people will hyperventilate, tremble or shake, and some will feel cold and hot flashes, nausea, stomach cramps, or a feeling of detachment from reality.
Having any of these symptoms is obviously incredibly stressful wherever you are, but when these attacks occur in a public and/or confined space, the symptoms are often intensified.
What are the causes of an anxiety attack?
If you are experiencing anxiety attacks, your first point of call is usually your local physician who can rule out physical causes of your physical symptoms, e.g., a thyroid issue, asthma, cardiovascular disease, asthma, hypoglycemia. Some medications can also cause symptoms of anxiety.
However, anxiety attacks are often associated with anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), phobias (e.g., claustrophobia), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and social anxiety disorder. The cause of anxiety attacks can vary from person to person, but medical research has found that people who suffer from anxiety attacks may have:
- An overactive brain regarding emotion
- An imbalance of serotonin and noradrenaline, which regulate mood in the brain
- A genetic predisposition to anxiety
- A history of trauma, e.g., serving in the military, experiencing sexual assault, abuse, bullying, or domestic violence, or working as a first emergency responder
- A history of long-term health issues and chronic pain
- A history of alcohol or drug misuse
Treatment for anxiety attacks
While anxiety is temporary for some, for people who suffer from chronic worry or fear and/or anxiety attacks, it can be incredibly debilitating. They may struggle to complete daily tasks, keep a job, maintain healthy relationships, or care for themselves physically. In these cases, it is important to seek treatment that will help in overcoming anxiety.
When medical causes have been ruled out, you may be referred to a mental health professional for cognitive behavioral therapy, and your doctor may prescribe medication as a form of anxiety relief. Leading a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise, a balanced diet, and plenty of sleep can also help people to reduce their anxiety.
While these approaches can be successful on a long-term basis, more people are turning to the stellate ganglion block injection anxiety attack treatment (SGB) for a more immediate reduction in their symptoms of anxiety. The stellate ganglion block anxiety injection is administered directly into a group of nerve cells that activate our ‘fight or flight’ response. The result of the SGB injection is a noticeable reduction in the symptoms of an anxiety attack and a more balanced state of mental health.
The SGB injection for anxiety is administered under local anesthetic. The doctor administering the SGB anxiety injection uses an ultrasound or x-ray machine to make sure the correct group of nerves is targeted. The SGB shot for anxiety procedure takes no more than 30 minutes.
If you are interested in anxiety and PTSD breakthrough injection SGB treatment for yourself of a loved one, get in touch with our experienced doctors today for more information. You can see if you’re a candidate for the SGB injection near you.