All of us feel anxious from time to time. Severe anxiety, however, is far more than that experienced by the average person. It is characterized by acute and uncontrolled fearfulness and unwanted and distressing physical symptoms. Severe anxiety exhibits similar symptoms to those experienced by a person having a heart attack. These include chest pain, heart palpitations or discomfort, sweating, chills or hot flushes, nausea, “butterflies” in the stomach abdominal pain, tremors or shakes, shortness of breath, choking sensation, and a general feeling as if you are going crazy.

If you experience an attack of severe anxiety, you should lie down on a bed, if possible. Concentrate on how your body is feeling. Stay with the sensations, as uncomfortable as they are, until they slowly wear off.