Can an anxiety attack last for days? Before I was put on anxiety meds, I used to have anxiety attacks that WOULD last for days. Tell you the truth, I don’t know how I’m still alive.
I was always in a state of fear and anxiousness. I couldn’t sit still. Also, I was jittery (I think because of the meds I was on),
The one thing that kept me in check was my cat. He seemed to sense that something was wrong with me. As a result, he would come up to me purring and rubbing up against me.
I believe and am very grateful that he saved my life during those times.
So, yes, an anxiety attack can last for days, weeks, or even months. The duration of an anxiety attack depends on the gradual onset of symptoms, and can be mild, moderate, or severe.
Consequently, some people, especially those with an underlying anxiety disorder, may experience sustained anxiety for hours or days at a time.
Symptoms and of Anxiety Attacks
Physical symptoms of an anxiety attack can include:
- Firstly, excessive fatigue
- Feeling tense
- Increased heart rate
- Fourthly, heart palpitations
- Chest pain
- Dry mouth
- Tightness in the throat
- Sweating
- Additionally, increased startle response
- Difficulty breathing
- Trembling or shaking
- Throat tightness or feelings of choking
- Headache
- In addition, numbness or tingling feelings
- Nausea and bowel pains
- Feeling dizzy, faint, or detached
- Chills or hot flashes
- Fear of dying
- Lastly, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Here are some common emotional signs:
- Firstly, fear or dread
- Constant worry
- Envisioning signs of trouble or negative things
- Fourthly, fearing the future
- Irritability
- Overthinking certain things to all possible worst case scenario
- Perceiving certain situations as threatening even when they aren’t
- Unable to let go of fear, thought, or worry
- Additionally, difficulty handling uncertainty
- Indecisiveness and extreme fear of making the wrong choice
- Persistently feeling restless or unable to relax
- Trouble concentrating or sleeping
- Irritability
- Lastly, panic Disorder
Triggers of Anxiety Attacks
Common triggers for anxiety attacks include:
- Firstly, spsetting dreams or nightmares
- Flashbacks
- Uncontrolled feelings or memories about an event
- Fourthly, self-destructive behavior like alcohol abuse or driving too fast
- Irritability or angry outbursts
- Trouble concentrating or sleeping
- Overwhelming shame or guilt
- Additionally, always being on guard for danger
- Recurrent distressing memories of a traumatic event
- Avoiding talking or thinking about a traumatic event
- Avoiding certain activities, people, or places that remind you of a traumatic event
- In addition, negative thoughts and mood
- Memory problems
- Lack of interest in events you once enjoyed
- Feeling emotionally numb
- Lastly, social anxiety disorder
Can an anxiety attack last for days? If an anxiety attack lasts for several hours or days, it could be a sign of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
It’s also possible that multiple anxiety attacks occur back-to-back, making it feel like one long episode.
Many of these symptoms can be a sign of other health problems. Therefore, asthma, heart disease, and diabetes are some conditions that cause the same symptoms.
For example, many people with diabetes report feeling a sense of doom or panic when their blood sugar levels get too low.
Sometimes the differences will depend on how long the anxiety attack lasts.
If the symptom goes away after the person corrects their blood sugar, it is likely due to low glucose. If not, and the fear continues, it may be a sign of an anxiety disorder.
How long do anxiety attacks last?
Some people, especially those with an underlying anxiety disorder, may experience sustained anxiety for hours, days, or even weeks at a time.
Panic attacks, however, typically last between 5 and 30 minutes, with symptoms peaking within the first few minutes.
Sometimes symptoms may linger for up to an hour, or, on rare occasions, longer.
How do you calm an anxiety attack?
Can an anxiety attack last for days? Even though we can’t tell you exactly why or what caused your attack, we can share steps to help stop it or at least decrease the intensity.
Look at your surroundings
All things considered, remember that the fight or flight response is your body’s way of preparing you for survival. Look around. Are you in danger?
If the answer is yes, make sure you get yourself to safety. If the answer is no, keep looking at your surroundings. But, if you’re at work, look at your chair and desk.
See that they are here, in the moment, and so are you. Hence, this can help bring you back to where you were before the panic started.
Breathe deeply for attacks
During the fight or flight response, your breathing automatically starts to become shallow. Accordingly, recognize those breaths and force them to go deeper.
The deeper and slower you breathe, the calmer you will feel. Basically, if all you do is focus on regaining control of your breathing, it will go a long way to helping you feel better.
Repeat a mantra for attacks
A mantra is a short set of words that mean something to you. Altogether, some people might consider it a prayer, while others might call it a meditation.
All that matters is that you repeat something to yourself, out loud or in your mind. For example, “I am safe, I am calm.”
Movements for anxiety attacks
Can an anxiety attack last for days? Sometimes they do. But, some people find that the fastest way to push out anxious energy is to move.
Therefore, exercises like yoga, running, push-ups or squats can be exhausting. This means your body will shift energy away from the anxiety you’re feeling to the movements and exercise instead.
When to See a Doctor for Anxiety Attacks
While some mild anxiety in certain situations is normal, you should consult a doctor if you suspect you have an anxiety disorder.
If not addressed, some anxiety can worsen over time, exposing you to further dangers and complications.
Thus, it’s always best to consult a doctor to determine whether you have a problem and address it on time before it worsens.
Sometimes the symptoms could be a sign of an underlying health problem like cardiovascular disease.
When to Visit an ER for Anxiety
Can an anxiety attack last for days? Generally, you should visit an emergency room near you if you experience severe anxiety or uncontrollable panic episodes that last more than 30 minutes.
Other severe symptoms that can prompt you to seek emergency medical care for anxiety include:
- Firstly, severe hyperventilation or tachycardia
- Chest pains
- Difficulty breathing
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Lastly, thoughts of attempting suicide or hurting yourself or others
Can an anxiety attack last for a week?
How long is too long for an anxiety attack to last? It’s possible to feel a high level of anxiety for a long period. It can even last for several days.
Another possibility is that many anxiety attacks occur back-to-back, making it feel like one long episode.
This can be especially hard on the body because anxiety symptoms happen due to the fight or flight response.
Besides, this response is a series of physical responses the body goes through to help get you out of a bad situation. Also, to warn you of a potential threat.
For example, the body triggers a release of hormones such as adrenaline.
This is useful if a lion is chasing you because the fight or flight response can help you respond to the threat quickly and get out of trouble.
The problem is that smaller, non-life-threatening events can trigger this response, too. For example, being stuck in traffic and knowing you’ll be late for work.
Therefore, if the stress response isn’t shutting down, or it’s coming on in waves, you will need to see a doctor.
What are some techniques to prevent and manage anxiety attacks?
Can an anxiety attack last for days? How long an anxiety attack lasts might depend on what steps you take to prevent them in the first place.
This is because anxiety and panic disorder may become worse if they are not treated. When you take care of yourself, you help lower some of the stressors causing anxiety.
Comparatively, here are some common ways to prevent and manage anxiety:
Stress relief – Meditation, deep breathing, tai chi, massage, and mindfulness are just a few ways to lower stress. They can help you stay calmer longer.⁴ ⁶
7 Techniques To Relieve Stress And Anxiety
Exercise – Undoubtedly, working out regularly is not just a great stress reducer, but it helps keep your health on track. It also helps you breathe in deeper, which is very relaxing overall.
Just say no – Smoking, coffee, alcohol, and certain drugs can be triggers for many people. Eliminating them might be worth a shot.
Sleep – This might sound easier than it is, but getting more or better quality sleep helps your body manage stress and repair from its damage.
Stay connected – Make sure that you have a social life. You don’t need to go out every night, but you should have some people you want to share your time with.
At any rate, if social media is an anxiety trigger, as is the case for many people, try turning it off and joining a club or meet-up instead.
Sum It All Up
Can an anxiety attack last for days? I’ve been to the ER more times than I care to count because of anxiety attacks.
Hence, I feel like I should know everyone there. This happened when I first started to have attacks.
Nowadays, I know just to wait it out. Plus, of course, the Klonopin is helping although it is making me tired at times.
I would like to try microdosing. I’ve heard good things about it from several people. Basically,
I’m just tired of the side effects from the meds I’m on. But, I have to make that leap to try something new that might not work out.
Basically, I’m tired of being tired and in a fog all the time. The meds that are supposed to help me sleep, aren’t working.
If any of you have someone that you consider knowledgable about microdosing, please let me know. Until next time…
Articles About Anxiety Attacks
-How long do anxiety attacks last? According to a Psychiatrist
https://www.talkiatry.com/blog/how-long-do-anxiety-attacks-last
-Anxiety and panic attacks
-Anxiety disorders
Have a Good One,
Cindee Murphy, One Voice In The Vastness Of Emotions
“Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal.” – Albert Camus
“Every day is a struggle, even when I’m at my best. My anxiety is always with me, and my panic taps me on my shoulder a few times a day. On my good days, I can brush it off. On my bad days, I just want to stay in bed.” – Unknown
“Living with anxiety is like being followed by a voice. It knows all your insecurities and uses them against you. It gets to the point when it’s the loudest voice in the room-it’s the only one you can hear.” – Unknown
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