Anxiety attack symptoms

Anxiety attack symptoms are characterised by mild to severe mental (emotional) and physical effects.

Mental: agitation, agoraphobia, apprehension, constant worry, endless crying, depression, feel stressed and/or overwhelmed, irrational fears, irritable, irrational behaviour, lack of self confidence and esteem, low tolerance to stress, nervousness, panicky feelings or panic attacks (sometimes leading to tetany, a sustained muscle contraction not caused by tetanus), difficulty relaxing, emotional balance upset, tension

Physical: butterflies in stomach, breathing difficulties, cold and/or clammy hands or skin, cravings for sweet things, dizziness, exhaustion/fatigue, headaches, hot flushes/sweating, itching skin, jittery, lump in throat, misty vision in eyes, muscle weakness, nausea, rapid heart beat or palpitations, shaking or trembling, shortness of breath, stiff/uptight, stomach in 'knots', tight chest, tremors

Anxiety attack symptoms can be caused by an external mental or physical stressor or endogenously by a drop in blood sugar.

The body responds to any stress, either mental or physical in the same way...

The stress hormones cortisol, noradrenaline and adrenaline rise, causing restlessness, nervousness, jitters and other non-specific and non-directed signs of agitation. Blood is directed away from periphery blood vessels and directed to the heart and major muscles, blood pressure increases, as does heart rate.The immune system, digestion, hormones, neurotransmitters etc are suppressed.

In other words the body goes on hold, apart from the heart and legs, until all danger has been dealt with. Fine when being chased by a sabre tooth tiger, but harmful if not!

This outpouring of adrenaline causes sugar (glycogen) stored in cells in the body, particularly the liver, to pour into the blood to give energy. As the sugar drains out it is replaced by water, causing bloating and weight gain. Too much adrenaline can bring on an attack of panic, migraine, epilepsy and some of the anxiety attack symptoms above.

If the sugar is not used up in either the 'fight or flight' response, the body responds by creating a surge of insulin to prevent hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar). It does this by converting the excess sugar into fat which then gets deposited in the fatty tissues causing weight gain.

An increase in cholesterol and triglycerides also occurs. If too much insulin is released blood sugar drops sharply, leading to many of the above symptoms. If at this point no food is eaten, to prevent the sugar dropping too low, the adrenal glands again pump out adrenaline to bring stored sugar into the blood, and so a vicious cycle is started.

Adrenaline, apart from making the heart race, produces the following anxiety attack symptoms...

• FIGHT: Aggression, Irritability, Rage, Violence
• FLIGHT: Avoidance, Mental confusion, Withdrawal, Fatigue
• FRIGHT: Anxiety, Apprehension, Depression, Panic

With the drop in levels of neurotransmitters, particularly GABA (our major calming neurotransmitter) and serotonin (our major 'happy' neurotransmitter) and a drop in progesterone levels, agitation, nervousness, panic attacks or panicky feelings are produced. It is essential to replace these missing nutrients to prevent further agitation.

Conventional treatment of anxiety attack symptoms

Anxiety, severe anxiety and psychosis are usually treated with benzodiazepines, one such is diazepam (Valium). Occasionally SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) antidepressants are also used.

Benzodiazepine drugs work by enhancing the anxiolytic activity of GABA, thereby increasing the inhibitory processes in the brain. Unfortunately they cause physical dependence and addiction and should only be used at a very low dose for short term relief of no more than two weeks.

Patients on low dose, long term therapy become addicted to the drug. Patients with anxiety disorder are at risk of addiction.

Diazepam and the other benzodiazepines are used to relieve anxiety, muscle spasms, and seizures and to control agitation caused by alcohol withdrawal. Normally given orally, they may be used intravenously for panic attacks.

Benzodiazepines can cause aggression, anger, hypomania, anxiety, mania, schizophrenia, suicidal thoughts and violence. Combining with alcohol can be particularly dangerous.

Another anxiolytic is Buspirone (BuSpar) given to treat anxiety disorders or short-term treatment of anxiety attack symptoms. It works on the serotonin receptors, but not the GABA receptors, and does not cause sedation or addiction as do the benzodiazepines.

Psychotherapy, an alternative to drugs, is also used.

Natural treatment of anxiety attack symptoms

Progesterone is known as a neurosteroid, because it is synthesized in the central nervous system and affects nerve functioning, and therefore mood and behavior.

Progesterone has been found to enhance GABA's calming affect and suppress the 'excitatory glutamate response'. The anti-anxiety affect has been noticed within three to ten minutes, whether injections or topical progesterone had been used as the means of administration.

The anti-anxiety response is similar to that found after the administration of benzodiazepine drugs, but of course with no addictive risks.

Progesterone works by activating the GABA receptor sites, GABA is a calming neurotransmitter, if used together the calming affect is enhanced.

Unstable blood sugar can cause anxiety and panic attacks. It is imperative to stabilise this, see the 'avoid' list below.

Insulin resistance can cause unstable blood sugar. If this is suspected, it is possible to reverse naturally.

To help reverse Insulin Resistance click here for details of an Energy Boost Formula that really works

Stress, particularly sudden, can bring on an attack of anxiety/panic. Its difficult to avoid stress, but if blood sugar is stable and both progesterone and GABA are being used, the stress response will be much less severe.

Natural anti-depressants and anti-anxiety nutrients...

• Tryptophan

This is the amino acid precursor to serotonin, which is low in depression, insomnia, anxiety, OCD, a slow gut leading to constipation, a stomach in knots, IBS, aches and pains, including fibromyalgia, hot flushes and more. It helps stabilise blood sugar as it's involved with appetite control. Often a sharp drop in blood sugar causes depression and anxiety. This drop can also cause a hot flush, studies have found tryptophan helps with these. Serotonin is the precursor to melatonin our sleep hormone, so supplementing with tryptophan helps with insomnia.

Start with 250mg/day at night only and away from food. Tryptophan needs an insulin spike to push it into the brain, so take with about 1/4 glass of fruit juice or water and a biscuit. It also needs vitamin B6 and folic acid to convert it into serotonin, so if the tryptophan doesn't come mixed with B6 and folic acid, take 25mg B6 and 300mcg folic acid with it. Increase the dose slowly in 250mg increments until you find the optimum dose. If you find you wake during the night, have another dose ready by your bedside, together with some juice. Take it upon waking, without getting out of bed. You should drop off to sleep soon after. It is safe to go up to 6000mg/day.

• Tyrosine

This is the amino acid precursor to dopamine, which is often low in depression.

It is another effective antidepressant. To begin with take 250mg/day in the morning. This needs vitamin B3 and folic acid for conversion. Take 100mg B3 and 300mcg folic acid. Gradually increase the dose until the optimum is found. It is safe to go up to 6000mg/day.

• GABA

If the depression comes with anxiety and panic, then the amino acid GABA, also our most calming neurotransmitter, should be taken too. It should eliminate all feelings of anxiety and panic. Take 250mg/day initially, increasing till the optimum is found. Vitamin B6 is a necessary co-factor, take 25mg/day. It is safe to go up to 1000mg/day. GABA is difficult to administer, as it's easy to exceed what is needed and then symptoms come back, so increase very slowly.

• Taurine

Another wonderfully calming amino acid, particularly for the heart. There is more taurine in the heart than all other aminos combined. In people who suffer from panic attacks, anxiety and chronic fatigue the heart rate variability is erratic, taurine helps to calm this. Take 250mg/day, increasing till the optimum is found. Take 25mg of the co-factor vitamin B6 too. It is safe to go up to 6000mg/day.

• Progesterone

This is a natural monoamine oxidase inhibitor and works by increasing levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain. It also activates the GABA receptor sites making GABA more affective. Use between 100-200mg/day or 3-6ml Natpro, as described in detail here. It is easier to use progesterone to increase the effectiveness of GABA than to use GABA itself.

• Inositol

Sometimes classed as one of the B vitamins, it can be helpful in depression as it raises serotonin levels and helps stabilise blood sugar levels. Take 2000-4000mg/day. Levels of 12g/day have been given for OCD and depression.

• Choline

Also classed as a B vitamin, take 500mg/day. Works with inositol.

• Vitamin B3 (niacin or nicotinic acid, nicotinamide or niacinamide)

An antidepressant vitamin, take 100mg/day. Levels of 1500mg/day of niacinamide have been given for anxiety. Up to 30g/day of niacin have been given for schizophrenia. Niacinamide does not cause flushing of the skin, niacin does.

The following herbs can help relieve anxiety... kava-kava, valerian, chamomile, St. John's wort.

For general nutrition and dietary recommendations for coping with anxiety attack symptoms click here.

For technical references click here.