If you suffer from anxiety attacks, you know that an attack can range from a mild inconvenience to completely interfering with your day to day living activities. Anxiety attacks can be crippling -- especially when they prevent you from normalcy. If you are experiencing an anxiety attack when eating, you may begin to change your eating habits or lose weight. Getting the help you need will help you regain independence and begin living a normal life again.
Medical Care
Anxiety attacks can make it seem like you have a physical, life-threatening illness that needs prompt medical care. In most cases, an anxiety attack is harmless and does not cause any permanent, physical problems. If you have just experienced an anxiety attack for the first time, you should seek medical care in order to rule out illness that could mask an anxiety attack. Your doctor will record your vital signs, including heart rate, respiration and blood pressure. Keep in mind that your vital signs can be elevated when you are having an anxiety attack. He may run further testing that includes checking thyroid, blood glucose and iron levels in the blood. Certain medical conditions such as anemia, diabetes, hypoglycemia and hyperthyroidism have symptoms similar to anxiety attacks. If you feel like your food gets stuck in your mouth or you have trouble swallowing during an attack, your doctor may do a throat examination and check your thyroid and your throat for any swelling or abnormalities.
Symptoms
Symptoms of an anxiety attack vary in each person. A frightening symptom includes a tightness in the neck or chest. This can lead to feeling like you are choking on your food; the fear of choking can trigger an attack. This is generally caused by muscle tightness and constriction bought on by a rush of adrenalin in the body. In rare cases, you may develop an eating disorder because of your anxiety attacks. Avoiding eating or consuming liquids or soft foods can cause you to change your eating habits permanently, resulting in weight loss and weakness. Over time, you can develop anorexia. Other anxiety symptoms that may compound eating include abdominal cramping, shortness of breath, nausea, chest pain, dizziness, sweating and a rapid heart rate.
Causes
Often, anxiety attacks have no known cause. The Anxiety Disorders Association of America states that anxiety disorders may have a biological basis and can be hereditary. Brain chemistry, trauma and environmental factors can also lay the foundation for developing an anxiety disorder development. Certain medications that contain caffeine or ephedrine can trigger anxiety attacks. Foods that contain a lot of sugar both in processed and raw form can cause blood sugar levels and your heart rate to raise -- this can also trigger feelings of anxiety. In many cases, the fear of having an anxiety attack can trigger a new one.
Recommendations
If anxiety attacks are preventing you from eating balanced meals or getting the nutrition you need, you need to seek medical help. Treatment for severe anxiety disorders involves a multi-faceted approach. Your medical doctor may recommend anti-anxiety medication that includes selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, benzodiazepines or tricyclic antidepressants, notes Helpguide.org. The choices of medications, in conjunction with cognitive-behavioral therapy, exposure therapy and possibly inpatient therapy for treatment of your eating disorder, will depend on your overall health. Your therapist will map out a recovery program that includes teaching you how to deal with symptoms and emotions that may be tied into your anxiety disorder.
References
- Familydoctor.org: Anxiety and Panic, Gaining Control Over How You're Feeling
- Mayo Clinic; Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder Symptoms; Mayo Clinic Staff; March 25, 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Eating Disorders, Risk Factors
- Anxiety Disorders Association of America: Causes of Anxiety Disorder
- Helpguide.org: Anxiety Attacks and Disorders
