Other times the anxiety comes quickly and without warning and for no reason at all. Anxiety can Affect your Relationships An anxiety disorder is a more disabling feeling of anxiety that actually is constant and consuming. Anxiety disorder causes people to completely withdraw emotionally and often physically from their family and friends. Causes of Anxiety Attacks The cause of an anxiety attack can vary from person to person. They may be caused by an upsetting event in someone's life or a fear of something they have experienced growing up. Stress is a big contributor to anxiety attacks, but the possibilities are truthfully endless. Medication is a known trigger of an anxiety attack, and being less than active is known to be a contributor as well. Generally without warning the symptoms arrive and cause the sufferer to feel fearful, nervous, and frightened without reason. These episodes can last minutes, sometimes even hours, and can be very disabling to most people as they essentially can freeze a person like a “deer in the headlights”. If they claim to be doctors, check them out with a medical organization. If they are a business out for profit, do not trust their information unless it checks out with other reputable sources. It is always important to get more than one piece of information on any topic, let alone something that could be a matter of life and death. Cutting out the nightly snacks, and eating earlier in the evening always helps. Reducing any stress occurred during the evening hours is always very helpful. Try not to discuss any important issues before bed; this can lead to unwanted stress before sleep, which could be causing the panic. If possible try to exercise before bed, or at least sometime in the evening; even a short walk can be helpful. Let’s take a look at some of the symptoms that usually come with anxiety attacks. A Pounding Heart One of the more common of an anxiety attack symptom is a pounding heart. This symptom can be caused by a number of different anxiety attacks, from mild to severe. Many people who do have an attack tend to clutch at their chest in fear of a heart attack or other ailment, when in reality they are experiencing anxiety.