Constant chest tightness from anxiety is a complaint of many people with mood disorders. It is an uncomfortable pressure that often excites the sufferer into believing that they are experiencing a heart attack. The feeling of chest tightness is a common symptom in anxiety sufferers and it is caused by the demand for oxygen by the heart muscle being greater than the supply due to artery constriction.

Any chest pain should be thoroughly investigated by a medical professional to rule out myocardial infarction (heart attack). Many medical conditions present with a symptom of chest pain, many quite serious, rule out all other possibilities.

The causes of chest tightness

Constant chest tightness from anxiety can cause someone to feel lightheaded and dizzy, and the victim begins to feel as if he is about to faint. He is also prone to a shortness of breath, dry mouth and excessive sweating. A victim with heightened senses can inadvertently trigger the fight or flight response.

Often exaggerated, this response causes the sufferer to become fearful of the situation he is in. This feeling often impedes rational cognitive thinking and can take hold of the sufferer in a second. Extra dosages of epinephrine and norepinephrine are released into the brain, causing the sufferer to react to an undue amount of stress.

In people with anxiety disorders these symptoms are best relieved by relaxation techniques that divert the patient’s attention away from their current situation. However, in the mind of the anxiety stricken their current situation may be something that is perceived only by them and not apparent to others present.

Epinephrine and norepinephrine control the pace at which the brain functions, excess of these chemicals causes the brain to perform at an accelerated level and the person soon becomes disoriented and confused. In extreme cases the person becomes frantic and uncontrolled. You must understand that this person, in their agitated state, truly feels that they are not going to survive, hence the panic.

Practicing Crisis Management

Anxiety attacks normally last around 10-15 minutes although some have lasted for hours and once they subside the victim is physically fine if not mentally drained. Once recovered the person realizes that their fears were unfounded but they are powerless to stop it, but the possibilities of these kinds of attacks are constant. Chest tightness from anxiety is not dangerous in itself but the conditions it ushers in are terrifying to the afflicted person. The heart begins to function again normally and a normal state of well being is once again achieved.

One should take prompt action to keep his problem of constant chest tightness from anxiety to a minimum. Consult the expertise of a health care provider and come up with a health plan that will stop these episodes from happening. There are many courses of treatments such as natural remedies, behaviour modification and even medication.

Always try to isolate the various situations that seem to escalate your anxiety levels and cause you to suffer an attack. Take measures to avoid these situations. Always reach out to those who are in the boat as you. Check if there’s any support group in your area. Soon, you will be able to lead a normal and carefree life again.

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Tags : anxiety, anxiety attack, Health, panic, panic attack

Anxiety and one of its key symptoms – panic attacks ? need treatment. The most obvious reason to seek treatment for anxiety is to eliminate the often crippling impact it has on sufferers? lives. An equally important reason is that without treatment, anxiety sufferers risk of developing even more serious anxiety-based disorders and behavioral problems. It is essential to seek an effective treatment for anxiety that will address current symptoms and prevent them worsening.

Finding the treatment that you feel comfortable with is very important in the treatment of anxiety. There are several effective options available, and it is just a matter of finding the one that is the best fit for your situation. If you find one treatment ineffective, you will likely find another an ideal solution. There is something out there for every patient.

Feeling positive and hopeful in regards to your treatment is a good indicator of the level of success it will have.

Listed below are the primary options for anxiety treatment.

Medications Prescribed for Anti-Anxiety

There are many drugs available that treat anxiety specifically or in the process of treating related conditions. For instance, many anti-depressants also have a positive impact on anxiety and panic attacks. Drugs specifically for anxiety included Ativan, taken ?as needed? at the onset of a panic attack, and Valium (diazepam), used to reduce general anxiety levels.

While drug-based anxiety treatments can be helpful there are two major drawbacks. Firstly, drug treatments address the symptoms of anxiety but not the root causes of anxiety. Secondly, there is a high risk of becoming dependant on (addicted to) some commonly-prescribed anti-anxiety drugs.

Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy for Anxiety

Some patients find that hypnosis is a good option to handle their anxiety problems. Since this method does not use addictive medication, it is sometimes favored over the medicine approach. Hypnotherapy treats anxiety by utilizing deep relaxation exercises to place a patient into a calm state wherein they can explore the motivation for their anxiety. Following that, Hypnotic suggestion is employed to convince the brain to handle anxiety differently.

However, anxiety can present a real problem in hypnosis. Many people who suffer from anxiety are unable to relax sufficiently to be hypnotized. Hypnotherapy is also less effective on panic attacks. Especially in the case of severe panic attacks, hypnosis alone will not generally be sufficient to combat the problem. Most hypnotherapists who take on new patients with severe panic attacks will insist on the patient getting concurrent cognitive therapy or psychological counseling.

Self-hypnosis exercises practiced in the safe and familiar environment of home can provide some relief from anxiety but again, does little for acute anxiety expressed as panic attacks.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is used in the treatment of anxiety and a number of other conditions. CBT works by seeking out improper thought patterns and retraining them. Since the way that a person views a situation is altered, it is possible to also alter their reaction to it.

Cognitive therapy for anxiety and panic attack sufferers typically involves exercises with timetables to ensure progress but it can be a lengthy process. However, it is an anxiety treatment that safely and effectively addresses the root causes of anxiety and provides a lasting, usually life-long solution.

More than three million people in America alone have suffered from unexplained panic and anxiety. Panic attacksare not well understood by modern medicine. Get more information on how you can stop anxiety and panic attacks and get on with living.

Tags : anxiety, anxiety attacks, depression, disease and illness, Health, health and fitness, mental health, panic, panic attacks, psychology, stress