• Anxiety attacks trigger an intense fight-or-flight response in the body.Fear Medo image by DIOGODRIGO from Fotolia.com
  
  Anxiety attacks, or panic attacks, are an extreme reaction to anxiety or fear. During an anxiety attack, the body produces stress hormones that trigger a fight-or-flight response. The result is a combination of symptoms that can start suddenly, with little or no warning, and may appear to have no cause at all. People can develop anxiety attacks as part of panic disorder, or stress and fear can simply overwhelm the mind and trigger an attack. Individuals that suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are likely to suffer from panic attacks. Other mental illnesses, such as depression, can also lead to anxiety attacks.
  
  

Feeling of Doom

• Anxiety attacks are usually accompanied by an intense feeling of fear, or a feeling of impending doom. Exactly what causes this feeling may not be clear, but it can focus on a variety of different things. For example, some people who suffer from anxiety attacks feel an intense fear of death. Others may fear going crazy or losing control, or they may feel self-conscious, according to AnxietyCentre.com.
  
  

Hot/Cold Flashes

• An individual suffering from a panic attack may feel either hot or cold. This may result in sweating or in chills. People often shiver or visibly shake during a panic attack. This can be a mixture of cold and fear.
  
  

Chest Pain

• When a person feels fear or stress, the heart speeds up as part of the fight-or-flight response. During an anxiety attack, an individual may feel as if his heart is pounding or beating too quickly or out of rhythm. In some cases, this feeling is accompanied by a chest pains and a tight feeling in the chest.
  
  

Nausea

• Panic attacks can also lead to an upset stomach. An individual may feel mildly queasy or nauseous. In some cases this can lead to vomiting.
  
  

Confusion

• It is not uncommon for an anxiety attack to cause confusion, disorientation or detachment, states AnxietyCentre.com. In some cases, an individual may not even remember the attack. Someone who has suffered a panic attack may seem distant or detached, or she may be confused about what is happening around her.
  
  

Difficulty Breathing

• Tightness in the chest can make breathing difficult during a panic attack. The stress hormones in the body can also increase the rate of breathing, and it becomes difficult to catch your breath, often resulting in hyperventilation. An individual may also feel dizzy during an anxiety attack.