Quiz: Are You Prone to an Anxiety Attack? Find Out Now

An anxiety attack can be characterised by sudden waves of emotion that cause intense worry. Often, thoughts about imminent events like illness and death or uncertain outcomes like the possibility of being late for a job interview can trigger these attacks. Mood disorders such as depression can also trigger it.

Are You Eager to Discover If Your Symptoms Point to an Anxiety Attack?

Getting an early diagnosis from a mental health expert is important. This can help you manage the occurrence of an anxiety attack effectively. Alternatively, you could also seek the advice of a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) physician. They may offer a distinct perspective in helping you determine if it is anxiety or a panic attack. In addition, a TCM practitioner will also provide you with suitable therapies for keeping the symptoms of either condition at bay. 

Let’s find out if your answers describe an anxiety attack or a panic attack.

If your answers are mostly A’s

You are prone to anxiety attacks. But don’t worry, because adopting the right management habits can help allay the symptoms of this disorder. From a TCM standpoint, practitioners believe that anxiety disorders are typically caused by our emotions. Fatigue, dietary consumption, or a weak body constitution, amongst other factors may also cause it.

According to Eu Yan Sang TCM physician Ignatius Ooi Yong Chin, “Excessive mood swings, which include feelings of happiness, anger, worry, thought, sorrow, fear, or shock, a weak constitution, susceptibility to chronic illnesses, fatigue, irregular lifestyle habits like staying up late at night, or an unhealthy diet that consists of frequent consumption of fried, pungent, and spicy food will cause the loss of qi, blood, yin, yang, and energy, and lead to anxiety.” 

For this reason, physician Ooi suggests the consumption of a herbal brew known as rose tea. Prepared with ingredients such as rosebuds, tangerine peel, and honey, this beverage can warm and nourish the heart, liver, and blood vessels, relieving qi stagnation in the body, inducing calm, and preventing depression. Similarly, physician Ooi also believes that massaging the Foot-Jueyin acupoints of the liver meridian can help to suppress nervousness and anxiety by soothing the liver and regulating qi.

If your answers are mostly B’s

You may not be suffering from anxiety, but you’re likely to be at risk of panic attacks. Some attacks may come from environmental stimuli and cause hyperventilation. People will mistake for lack of oxygen and start to breathe more rapidly. Physician Ooi says the best way to do away with panic attack symptoms is to inhale deeply and exhale slowly. 

Apart from deep breathing, also try applying pressure to certain acupoints to manage different symptoms. Neiguan — located two inches from the horizontal lines of both wrists — can be stimulated to relieve chest tightness and slow heart palpitations. A firm press on Shenmen — located on the crease of your inner wrist — can soothe the nerves and regulate your heartbeat.

An anxiety attack (or a panic attack, for that matter) can affect you physically and mentally. It can also impair your overall quality of life. On a brighter note, you can take comfort in knowing that the sooner you tackle anxiety or panic attacks head-on, the better the curative effect of therapy. Share this quiz with people presenting the symptoms of either condition if you found it helpful!