insideKENT Magazine Issue 28 - July 2014 | Page 92

HEALTH+WELLNESS

IT'S MORE COMMON THAN YOU THINK...

Anxiety
and
Panic Attacks
Adults with mental health problems are one of the most socially excluded groups in society, yet a
national survey conducted by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) estimates that one in four
adults will experience some form of mental health problems at some point in their lives. So why
does it seem this subject is still surrounded by prejudice, ignorance and fear? With anxiety and
panic attacks one of the most prevalent mental illnesses in the UK, it's time to accept it's way more
common than you think – and better still, the support is out there.

Anxiety is something we all experience from time
to time. Most people can relate to feeling tense,
uncertain and, perhaps, fearful at the thought of
sitting an exam, going into hospital, attending an
interview or starting a new job. You may worry
about feeling uncomfortable, appearing foolish
or how successful you will be. In turn, these
worries can affect your sleep, appetite and ability
to concentrate. If everything goes well, the anxiety
will go away.
This type of short-term anxiety can be useful.
Feeling nervous before an exam can make you
feel more alert, and enhance your performance.
However, if the feelings of anxiety overwhelm
you, your ability to concentrate and do well may
suffer.
The 'fight or flight' reflex
Anxiety and fear can protect you from danger.
When you feel under threat, anxiety and fear
trigger the release of hormones, such as adrenalin.
Adrenalin causes your heart to beat faster to
carry blood where it's most needed. You breathe
faster to provide the extra oxygen required for
energy. You sweat to prevent overheating. Your
mouth may feel dry as your digestive system
slows down to allow more blood to be sent to
your muscles. Your senses become heightened
and your brain becomes more alert.
These changes make your body able to take
action and protect you in a dangerous situation,

either by running away or fighting. This is known
as the 'fight or flight' reflex. Once the danger has
passed, other hormones are released, which
may cause you to shake as your muscles start
to relax. This response is useful for protecting
you against physical dangers; for example, it can
help you run away from wild animals, attackers,
fires etc. very quickly. The response is not so
useful if you want to run away from exams, public
speaking, a driving test, or having an injection.
This is because, if there is no physical threat, and
you have no need to physically run away or fight,
the effects of adrenaline subside more slowly,
and you may go on feeling agitated for a long
time.
Severe anxiety
If the anxiety stays at a high level for a long time,
you may feel that it is difficult to deal with everyday
life. The anxiety may become severe; you may
feel powerless, out of control, as if you are about
to die or go mad. Sometimes, if the feelings of
fear overwhelm you, you may experience a panic
attack.
What is a panic attack?
A panic attack is an exaggeration of the body’s
normal response to fear, stress or excitement. It
is the rapid build-up of overwhelming sensations,
such as a pounding heartbeat, feeling faint,
sweating, nausea, chest pains, breathing
discomfort, feelings of losing control, shaky limbs

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and legs turning to jelly. If you experience this,
you may fear that you are going mad, blacking
out, or having a heart attack. You may be
convinced you are going to die in the course of
the attack – making this a terrifying experience.
Panic attacks come on very quickly, with
symptoms usually peaking within ten minutes.
Most panic attacks last for between five and
twenty minutes. Some people report attacks
lasting for up to an hour, but they are likely to be
experiencing one attack after another or a high
level of anxiety after the initial attack. You may
have one or two panic attacks and
never experience another. Alternatively, you may
have attacks once a month or several times each
week. For some people they seem to come
without warning and strike at random.
Panic attacks can also come in the night and
wake you up. These attacks occur if your brain
is on 'high alert' (due to anxiety), and can detect
small changes in your body which it then interprets
as a sign of danger.
Why do some people feel more anxious
than others?
It could simply be because of your personality,
you worry more than others, current
circumstances, your past or childhood experience,
or a mixture of these.