11 CommentsSo, when you feel an episode of anxiety and panic overtaking you what exactly is going on inside your body? Most of the symptoms that I complain about the most are racing heart rate, uncontrolled breathing, sweating, and the feeling that you just want to bolt down the street running (FEAR).
Sometimes when we are overwhelmed by stress and anxiety our bodies react by releasing a chemical called adrenaline or what I call ‘anxiety juice’. You can think of adrenaline as the fuel behind a lot of the symptoms and sensations that you endure. Adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, is a hormone and neurotransmitter that activates the fight or flight mechanism in your brain and body. The flight or fight mechanism is turned on when your brain registers danger or a high stress situation, its basically a survival tool that all animals have. Once your brain receives a message that your in trouble, adrenaline is pumped into your bloodstream and causes your heart rate to increase (increased oxygen), dilates pupils (for better vision), increases sweat production (keeps you cool in case you need to run), suppresses immune system (not needed in danger situations) and creates a general (but awful) feeling of fear. This reaction is supposed to help you survive a potentially life threatening situation. But 99% of the time your reaction is a false alarm and even though you feel like your ready for action, there is nothing going on.
The anxiety juice is kept in adrenal glands ( see the above image) and sits on top of the kidney. All this anxiety juice production is regulated by the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system which help to control our bodies movements and control anxiety juice production (and associated organs). When we are racked by stress and anxiety, which can be caused by either a chemical imbalance in the brain, heredity, or just high levels of stress, we lose the balance between the two systems and this can lead to the intensification of the bodies normal functions. When we are in balance we normally don’t feel the heart beating or the speed and rhythm of breathing. But when we are anxious or highly stressed the body produces and releases anxiety juice which excites your organs and causes you to be fully aware of your bodies normal functions. This can of course freak you out and make you think your dying or that something serious is happening.
The truth is that this pattern of fear, anxiety juice, anxiety/panic is always the same. The body will always create the same type of sensations and these sensations will not harm you. Of course you want to get checked by a medical doctor to make sure you don’t have any underlying conditions. But once you have been reassured by a medical professional, then be confident that this anxiety juice and the things it makes you feel will not kill or harm you. I know this is hard to accept, but you have to know that this is your body and mind playing tricks on you. I will expand on the best ways to cope with anxiety in other post and will introduce you to natural anxiety remedies that can be used to cope and even eliminate this hated state of mind.
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I need help…I read your article and it describes me…when I’m in a social situation or a business meeting my pupil dialate..I start to sweat and I get really bad headaches…How can I prevent this??? Thanks for your help
The best advise I can give you is that you should understand and accept that when anxiety fills you it is not dangerous and you will not be harmed any way.
When you are in a social setting you need to take deep breaths through your nose and slowly out your mouth.
Don’t let the tension mount – instead bring your focus outside of yourself and allow yourself to be distracted.
You have to tell yourself that you are ok, there is no danger, be calm, be calm.
It is a mixture of breathing, self talk and the realization that despite the fear and physical symptoms you are 100% safe. It is fear nothing else.
Hi, you are doing a great service. Thanks!
Last year I had spiral fracture. After that I was quite stressed out. Then my right hand fingers started trembling. It subsided a lot over a year, but I still experience mild trembling now and then. Can anxiety cause trembling in fingers?? Thanks!
Hi Vinay, to answer your question yes anxiety can give you the shakes. But not to worry, this is usually related to short term high levels of stress. Just remember if your hands tremble, no big deal. It will not hurt you and adopting an accepting attitude will help you to speed up recovery.
Hi, this is a great article. One question I have is around adrenaline regulation. I used to suffer regular anxiety attacks but realising what the cause and science behind them were prevented them fully. There are some situations where the symptoms pop up and there is nothing really I can do about it. My question is, is there a chemical way to supress the production of adrenaline, I know that in the long term it is a vital hormone but as a stopgap is there a reverse method of what an epinephrine shot achieves?
Thanks!
Hi Marko, there is an adrenaline blocking drug called phentolamine. It’s usually given to people with a condition that causes adrenal gland tumors. It blocks the production of adrenaline.
But this drug can be dangerous. A good alternative would be sedatives, if blocking the feelings of adrenaline is the goal.
Remember to always to talk to your doctor first. They can give you a wide range of options to counter the effects of adrenaline. Cheers.
is excessive masturbation causes increase in adrenaline harmones?
Hey Guru, The answer is yes! It sure can.
is excessive masturbation and increase in adrenaline converts into anxeity disorder.because i m masturbating from 10 years.its too long.
Thanks for this post. I have suffered from anxiety for years. I just went to the DR to get meds…I hate being on meds but I hate having to live alone, more. Anytime I go anywhere, my heart pounds, my chest hurts, I can’t breathe, and just want to go home…they call it generealized anxiety disoder with panic and agoraphobia.
I know it’s life related, I’ve had alot of tragedy. Husband became qualdripalegic in auto accident at 31…died at 32…after he died I found our Daughter has a rare degernative brain disorder…add to that a challenging childhood…and voila! ME. I’ve done counseling for years, with some of the best. Now, I just want to lelarn how to live with this. Your posts help, thank you. p
You’re welcome P.