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Anxiety is a medical condition that affects hundreds of thousands of people around the world every day. Anxiety is a permanent state of worry that almost always brings about the onset of anxiety and panic attacks. This article will show you the symptoms that can occur with an anxiety attack.

One of the most common anxiety attack symptoms many people experience is shortness of breath. This symptom presents itself in nearly every person that has anxiety attacks. You may feel as though you can’t breathe, or the breaths you take aren’t enough. Some people say they feel like they can’t get enough air when they breathe.

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The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that about forty million Americans have an anxiety disorder. That’s just over eighteen percent of people ages eighteen and older who suffer from this terrible disorder. Of this huge amount of anxiety sufferers, many do not know why they feel the way they feel.

Causes of Anxiety

For many, anxiety is brought about by family or financial problems. Tight finances and huge debt can cause an overwhelming feeling of loss of control, which can trigger anxiety symptoms immediately. The main root of anxiety comes from worry. Worry about family issues, financial problems, work stress, etc. can lead to surmounting anxiety over a period of time.

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Anxiety and depression are literally debilitating diseases. They can take total control of your life before you realize it. Many people suffering from anxiety and depression may not even realize it. They learn to deal with their awkward feelings and think they’re no different from everyone else.

It is for this very reason that if you know someone whom you think is suffering from anxiety and/or depression, you should offer to help them. If you think you are suffering from anxiety and depression, there are ways to overcome it. Here are seven steps to help get you started on the road to recovery:

1. Admit you have a problem. This is always the hardest part. There is nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. Many people suffer from exactly the same thing as you. Admitting you have a problem is the first step to a healthy recovery.

2. Recognize that this is not your fault. All too often, people suffering from anxiety or depression assume that it is because of something horrible they’ve done. In many instances, depression is brought on by chemical imbalances in your body. It has nothing to do with your spiritual state at all.

3. Be kind to yourself. When you are depressed, you beat yourself up. You berate yourself and constantly think negative thoughts. Remember to give yourself a break. Be as nice to yourself as you would be to a friend suffering the same as you.

4. Ask for help. Don’t be stubborn and tell yourself that you can get through this alone. Be bold enough to visit your family physician and ask for help.

5. Take your medication as prescribed. One of the biggest mistakes many people make is not following the doctor’s orders when it comes to medication. Just because you’re feeling better, that doesn’t mean you should stop taking your meds. Never discontinue your medication with your doctor’s orders or supervision.

6. Call on a good friend. During the times when you want to be alone, you should call a good friend and ask for company. These “dark hours” are the worst and you should never lock yourself away and suffer through it alone.

7. Start exercising regularly. Believe it or not, getting frequent exercise dramatically decreases anxiety attacks and mood swings. Get out and walk or join a local gym and start exercising as often as possible.

Procrastination and anxiety hold hands. If you’ve ever procrastinated, then you know exactly what I’m talking about. If you are procrastinating now, then you know what I’m talking about. You can’t have one without the other. Here’s why…

Procrastination, putting things off, always causes anxiety. Why? When you put something off, it’s always hanging over your head. You know that you have something to do but haven’t done it yet.

Leaving things until the very last minute is never a good thing. It stresses anyone out! The pressure of knowing that there is something that must be done will cause anxiety in a heartbeat. Knowing that you could have (and should have) done the task a week (or two!) ago stresses you out because you know you had plenty of time to do it.

Furthermore, procrastination puts you in a time crunch. Putting things off for another day means you will have to double up on your tasks for that day, or put them off for another day. It’s an endless, vicious cycle and when you get wrapped up in it, it’s difficult to get out of it.

If you spend more time procrastinating than getting things done, it’s no wonder why you’ve had anxiety attacks. Do you feel that tightness in your chest? Heavy breathing? Racing heart? Sweaty palms? These are all anxiety symptoms brought on by procrastination.

Stop hurting yourself. Stop procrastinating and your anxiety will surely cease. If you don’t believe me, then try it and see for yourself what will happen.