6 | No.42 OCTOBER 2016 | Chis BULL’ | PREVENTION WHATIS AN ANXIETY ATTACK? COULD IT HAPPEN TO ME? FEAR IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF LIFE, OFTEN DRIVING OUR RESPONSE TO A WHOLE RANGE OF SITUATIONS. ITALERTS US TO DANGER, TRIGGERING THE PHYSIOLOGICAL (&) REACTIONS THAT ENABLE US TO RESPOND APPROPRIATELY.‘An anxiety attack is characterised bya combination of feelings and thoughts, such as: ~ Palpitations or an accelerated heart rate ~ Pesspiration ~ Trembling or twitching ~ Feclings of breathlessness, suffocation ‘or strangulation ~ Chest pain or discomfort ~ Nausea or stomach pain ~ Dizziness, loss of balance, ight-headedness ‘or fainting sensation ~ Feelings of unreality or detachment from oneself ~ Numbness or pins and needles ~ Shivering or hot fushes ~ Fearoflosing sel control or going mad ~ Fearofdying WHATSHOULD YOUKNOW? Pear isan integral part oflife, often driving our response toa whole range of situations. Italerts us to danger, triggering the physiological rections that enable us to respond appropriately. ‘The Fear we feel ‘on high cif saves us from falling to our death, and the fear of failure pushes us to spend long hours studying, for exams Fear helps us to detect potential danger. Our body bas an automatic alarm system that kicks ia when ‘oar brain identifies an unusual situation as potentially dangerous. It tells oar respiratory system to alter the amounts of oxygen and carbon dioxide i ovr blood Various physiological retctions then occur. Our heart rate accelerates, increasing the blood flow to our muscles and brain. ‘Thisenables us to run away or do whatever is ry for our survival, or that of others, as quickly as possible. PREVENTION | CHIS BULL | No.42 OCTOBER 2016 | 7 HOW DOES THEFIRST ANXIETY ATTACK OCCUR? ‘Normal’ fears only one step eway from ‘pathological’ feat. Anxiety attacks are common affecting fone person in seven). How they develop depends on biological, peychological and social factors. Intense fea triggers various physiological mechanisms that are hharmiles but very real. These can often be distressing and can therefore rigger aviious circle of anxiety. “The fest anxiety attack can occur anywhere. Kis often preceded by peviods of stress such as conflicts at work, childbirth, serious health problems, family dificuties, financial worries, oran accumulation of stressful frightening, intense and unsettling situations over a period. WHaTsHOULDYoUDO IF YOUSUFFERFROM ANXIETY ATTACKS? ~ Unwind as much as possible tole your body calm down! = Delegate tasks ~ Getrid ofany needless psychological strains ~ Take regular holidays ~ Do some sport (avery important and effective way to reduce stress!) ~ Learn to relax (yoga, meditation, sophrology, mindfulness, breathing techniques) ~ Learn todo nothing ~ Getenough sleep ~ Pamper yourselfas often a possible (massages, wists tothe spa, days out listening to good mosic, et)! Ifyou continue to have anxiety attacks in spite ofthis, doctor or psychologist can help ‘you leara to control them, Effective treatments ‘re available! Christiane Reis Medical Service psychologist