Treat anxiety attacks online.

Common anxiety signs and symptoms for both males and females include:

• Feeling nervous, restless or tense.

• Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom.

• Having an increased heart rate.

• Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation).

• Sweating.

• Trembling.

• Feeling weak or tired.

• Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry.

• Having trouble sleeping.

• Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems.

• Having difficulty controlling worry.

• Having the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety.³

Anxiety attacks can have physical symptoms that affect health and daily life, including:

• Stomach pain, nausea or digestive trouble.

• Headache.

• Insomnia or other sleep issues (waking up frequently, for example).

• Weakness or fatigue.

• Rapid breathing or shortness of breath.

• Pounding heart or increased heart rate.

• Sweating.

• Trembling or shaking.

• Muscle tension or pain.⁴

A heart attack is a medical emergency. An anxiety attack isn’t. But with the overlap in symptoms, it can be tough to tell them apart.⁵

Both anxiety and heart attacks cause chest discomfort, but there is a difference. With a heart attack, pain radiates to other areas like the arm, jaw or neck. If it’s an anxiety attack, pain will typically stay in the chest.⁶

In many cases, an anxiety attack triggers a fast heart rate, also known as tachycardia. The heart rate may speed up to 200 beats per minute or even faster.

A fast heart rate can make you feel lightheaded and short of breath. Or you might feel fluttering or pounding in the chest. Usually, tachycardia that happens in response to emotional stress and only lasts a few minutes is not harmful. But if it happens regularly, or you have possible symptoms of a heart attack, seek medical care.⁷

An anxiety attack is unlikely to cause a heart attack, but it’s possible. Emotional stress plays a role in both conditions. Most of the time, however, people have an anxiety attack rather than a heart attack in response to emotional stress.⁸

People who have anxiety, depression or chronic stress may have a higher risk of heart problems. Chronic stress can lead to high blood pressure, which raises the risk of heart attack and stroke.⁹

Stress alone cannot lead to a stroke. However, a lifestyle with frequent high-stress situations or a history of anxiety can increase the risk of stroke, particularly if you have other risk factors. Stress causes reactions in the body that can exacerbate certain stroke risks.¹⁰

The causes of anxiety disorders aren't fully understood. Life experiences such as traumatic events appear to trigger anxiety disorders in people who are already prone to anxiety. Inherited traits also can be a factor.¹¹

Other risk factors include:

• Trauma.

• Stress buildup.

• Stress due to an illness.

• Personality.

• Other mental health disorders.

• Having blood relatives with an anxiety disorder.

• Drugs or alcohol.¹²

Anxiety attacks and panic attacks have many overlapping symptoms, including:

• Rapid heartbeat.

• Shortness of breath.

• Sweating.

• Nausea.

• Dizziness.

• Chest pain or discomfort.

However, there are some key differences in symptoms to help tell anxiety and panic attacks apart.

Anxiety attacks:¹³

• Develop slowly over time.

• Give individuals a general feeling of unease, restlessness or tension.

• Have less intense physical symptoms.

• Can be triggered by specific situations or events.

• Can last for days, weeks or months.

While panic attacks:

• Start suddenly and peak within minutes.

• Have intense physical symptoms.

• Include a fear of losing control or dying.

• Typically last for a shorter duration (a few minutes to an hour).

• Can happen without any apparent trigger or cause.

Anxiety is basically what we experience when we are worrying about some future event — anticipating a bad outcome that might happen. It's often involved with muscle tension and a general feeling of uneasiness. And it usually comes on gradually.¹⁴ While some of the symptoms of an anxiety attack are similar to those associated with panic attacks, they are generally less intense.¹⁵

You can’t die from anxiety, but you shouldn’t ignore anxiety attacks. If they happen a lot, consult with a mental health professional to learn strategies to reduce them. You may also benefit from anxiety medications.¹⁶

1. Verywell Mind

2. Healthline

3. Mayo Clinic

4. Healthline

5. Cleveland Clinic

6. Cleveland Clinic

7. Cleveland Clinic

8. Cleveland Clinic

9. Cleveland Clinic

10. Healthcare Associates of Texas

11. Mayo Clinic

12. Mayo Clinic

13. EMS 1

14. University of Michigan Medicine

15. Verywell Mind

16. Healthline

Yes! Telehealth providers, like RedBox Rx, allow you to connect with a licensed provider anywhere you have an internet connection. If prescribed, we can ship prescription treatment for anxiety attacks to all 50 U.S. states. Start an online consult now.

There are several techniques to use to help calm an anxiety attack.

• Breathing exercises can help prevent hyperventilation, slow down a racing heart and interrupt the body's natural panic response to extreme stress.

• Remove yourself from the situation if possible. It might help to move outdoors or to a quieter room.

• Relaxing your muscles can help get your mind off your fear and may also help relax your mind.

• Visualization can be a great way to take your mind off your fear. Think about a place that brings feelings of calm and happiness.

• Exercise. Go for a quick walk outside to change the environment and change your heart and breathing rates.

• Mindfulness helps keep the mind in the present moment. Since anxiety is related to having intense fear about the future or the unknown, using mindfulness lessens anxiety symptoms and brings the focus to the here and now.¹

Many of the techniques that work best for stopping an anxiety attack involve distraction. Distracting yourself from your feelings of fear by redirecting your attention to something else, such as an object, a phrase or your senses, can help stop the attack.²

The most effective strategy to stop trembling from an anxiety attack is to guide your body back to a relaxed state. Certain techniques can help calm you down:

• Progressive muscle relaxation. This technique focuses on contracting and then releasing different muscle groups. It can be done in tandem with deep breathing. The goal in practicing this technique is to get your body to relax. This can stop you from trembling.

• Yoga poses. The child’s pose and sun salutations can help you regulate your breathing and bring calm back to your body.

• Mindfulness exercises. Exercises that incorporate meditation can also help stop you from shaking.³

Medication treatment for anxiety attacks includes many of the same options as panic attacks with some differences. Medications for anxiety attacks include:⁴

SSRIs:

• Citalopram (Celexa®)

• Escitalopram (Lexapro®)

• Fluoxetine (Prozac®)

• Fluvoxamine (Luvox®)

• Paroxetine (Paxil®, Pexeva®)

• Sertraline (Zoloft®)

SNRIs:

• Duloxetine (Cymbalta®)

• Venlafaxine (Effexor® XR)

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs):

• Amitriptyline (Elavil®)

• Imipramine (Tofranil®)

• Nortriptyline (Pamelor®)

Benzodiazepines:

• Alprazolam (Xanax®)

• Chlordiazepoxide (Librium®)

• Diazepam (Valium®)

• Lorazepam (Ativan®)

Anxiolytics:⁵

• Buspirone (BuSpar®)

Antihistamines:⁶

• Hydroxyzine (Atarax®)

1. Verywell Health

2. Verywell Health

3. Healthline

4. Medical News Today

5. National Library of Medicine

6. National Library of Medicine
   

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