Approximately 6 million Americans over the age of 18 suffer from some sort of panic or anxiety disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Occasional stress happens to almost everyone, but experiencing frequent anxiety attacks is a serious problem. When your stress and anxiety is so severe that it interrupts your quality of life, it may be time to visit a health care professional to talk about the various symptoms of your stress and anxiety attacks.
Feelings of Dread
When you suffer from stress and anxiety attacks, you spend a lot of your time dreading the next attack, which exacerbates your condition, according to Depression-Guide.com. When you can't stop thinking about your next attack or tend to dread social situations, responsibilities and your life in general, you may be exhibiting signs of panic disorder and anxiety attacks.
Irritability
Feeling stressed and anxious all the time may leave you short-tempered and irritable. Because you don't have the tools to properly deal with your stress and anxiety, you may find yourself snapping at other people and becoming harder to work with as your attacks progress. You feel pressured and stressed and may project your feelings onto family members, co-workers and friends.
Worst Case Scenario
A person suffering from stress and anxiety attacks has a "worst case scenario" mentality, notes Helpguide.org. If you constantly catch yourself thinking about terrible things that could happen or expecting stressful situations, you could be a victim of a panic disorder. You may always feel as though you're going to be in trouble or get hurt---beyond common sense and past experiences. This could prohibit you from living a full life, since you're scared of what might happen.
Trouble Concentrating
When you feel stressed and anxious, you may have trouble concentrating on anything but whatever stresses you out. In turn, this could begin to affect your professional life and personal relationships. You're so concerned with your stress or focusing on your panic disorder that your concentration begins to suffer.
Physical Symptoms
The symptoms for stress and anxiety attacks don't only affect the mind. You may notice your body being affected by your panic and anxiety attacks as well. You may experience headaches, dizziness, chest pains, sweating and trouble breathing when you experience a true panic attack, notes MayoClinic.com. Physical symptoms can leave you feeling tired and shaken, which is why it's important to talk to your doctor if you experience frequent anxiety attacks that plague both your mind and your body.
