The discovery of the serious mental condition that is anxiety came only in the 19th century despite the study of psychology dating back to ancient times. Of course, this may be explained through many ideas. First, the old ways of living may have failed to provide enough trigger sources for panic attacks. Today's lifestyles provide more demands at work, school or at home. Second, the differences between normal fear and mentally depreciative anxiety are too vague to quickly pinpoint, and sometimes they are misinterpreted. When the people around you observe this behaviour everyday, they get used to it, thus making your probable anxiety condition significantly ignored. This way, anxiety treatment is delayed, and the conditions are worsened. For example, too much worrying over some household concerns may be mistaken for the excessive giving of attention and importance to the home.

The variations are not limited to obvious situations, thus one must be aware of the possible signs and symptoms that tell the need to undergo specific anxiety treatment procedures. So how can you determine this? First, you would have to make an observation list of your behaviour. Of course, this cannot be biased. The best way to know is to ask the people around you. In the event of panic or fear, take note of what triggered the emotions and the extent of your physical and mental manifestations. At the moment when you can be sure you're thinking clearly and calmly, assess these instances properly. If you observe that your reactions might have been too drastic or extreme for normal ones, then attention must be called for to treat your condition. In order for you to understand what signs and symptoms to look out for (and to what extent they may be considered normal), refer to this list of comparisons:

• In cases of sudden jolt of surprise or shock - normal reactions would be to either let out a short scream or shriek, be a bit jumpy, feeling your heartbeat pick up pace, or being short of breath for a while. If you suffer from anxiety disorders, all these cases are taken to extreme levels. You may find yourself having difficulty in breathing several minutes after the event, feeling dizzy or nauseous, or having chills and sweating unnecessarily. Take note of the intensity of the event and compare your reactions to normal ones. If you experience this with a group, observe other individuals for unbiased comparisons.

• Consistency, spontaneity, and harmfulness - if your feelings of panic go beyond the situational, this is a sure sign. Feelings of fear, tension, worry, and extreme alertness to the surroundings are all signs of anxiety when they are constantly present. The same is true if these are experienced out of the blue, with no triggers at all. In more serious cases, if these signs disrupt your normal pace or activities in life, this means you may be suffering from the more indirect complications of panic disorder.

If any of these apply to you, consult professional advice for anxiety treatment specific to your needs.