Reviewed by medical experts • For informational purposes only
The mental, physical and behavioural symptoms of anxiety, what panic attacks feel like, and the chest-pain emergency rule.
Anxiety is a whole-body state, not just a worried mind. Its symptoms span thoughts, body and behaviour - and because physical symptoms can be dramatic (a racing heart, breathlessness), many people first fear they are physically ill. Knowing the full picture helps identify anxiety for what it is and seek the right help.
A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear peaking within minutes: pounding heart, breathlessness, chest pain, dizziness, tingling, a feeling of unreality or losing control, sometimes a fear of dying. It is terrifying and not dangerous in itself - but chest pain should never be assumed to be anxiety. If chest pain is severe, new, lasts more than a few minutes, or comes with sweating, breathlessness or pain spreading to arm, jaw or back, call 112/102 (India) first - let doctors make the distinction, not guesswork.
See a doctor when anxiety is present most days, is hard to control, or is changing how you live - avoiding things, struggling at work or school, straining relationships, or ruining sleep. For crisis support in India, KIRAN (1800-599-0019) is free and available 24x7. Thoughts of self-harm are an emergency.
Can anxiety cause real physical illness? Its symptoms are physically real, and chronic anxiety strains the body over time. But the chest pain and breathlessness of an anxiety surge are not themselves damaging - the body is sounding a false alarm loudly.
How do I know if it is anxiety or a heart problem? You often cannot tell by feel alone - that is exactly why new or severe chest symptoms deserve medical evaluation first. Once the heart is cleared, recurring episodes can be addressed as anxiety with confidence.
Why do symptoms come in waves? The alarm system surges and settles. Triggers, poor sleep, caffeine and stress lower the threshold; waves are the illness, not a sign you are making it up.
Do children show anxiety differently? Yes - through stomach aches, school refusal, clinginess, tantrums before feared events, and sleep problems rather than verbalised worry.
Written By
Dr. Daksh
BDS
Reviewed By
Dr. Varun Gupta
MD Pharmacology, MBBS
Last updated on
27 Sep 2022 • 06:23 PM (IST)
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