Is it normal to cry over circumstances and situations we cannot control, or when we face fears and threats? 

Anxiety attack crying! Do anxiety attacks cause crying?

For many, the natural response to situations would be to shed tears or weep profusely. 

I experienced anxiety attacks and crying during my days at medical school. 

This would always precede my professional exam and my preparation for it. 

Believe me, the pressures of medical school can do that to you; the race against time to finish the course content and be ready enough for both written and oral exams, messes with your head. 

And anxiety attacks are never far off. 

Normal as it may seem, it requires attention to maintain your focus and composure and achieve your set goals. 

So how do you overcome anxiety attacks while trying?

Emotions, fears, and anxiety are not to be smothered with shame. It is okay to feel all the feelings. 

However, one of the things that could help is talking to someone. You might likely need a bit of counseling to help you through the challenge. 

Also, you might want to shift your focus for a while from anxiety triggers and meditate on the things that bring you joy and hope.

Anxiety Attack Crying could result from one or more of the following:

Anxiety

This is based on fear of imaginary or imminent threats.

Anxiety elicits some of the body's strongest emotional responses.

These powerful emotional responses could trigger other responses including crying (Steimer, Thierry 2002). 

Fear of the future, and fear of the unknown, can cause many to shed a tear or two. 

It is a psychological response to anxiety.

Anxiety Attack Or Panic

Panic as a severe form of anxiety elicits even stronger emotions that can cause people to cry.

Anxiety attacks or panic refers to anxiety that occurs to the highest degree. 

This triggers hormones that elicit tears.

Chronic Stress

Mental, emotional, and even physical stress could trigger anxiety attacks and crying, especially when there is little or no time to relax.

Chronic stress can lead to nervous system hypersensitivity (Mariotti, Agnese, 2015). 

Most people experience emotional instability when chronically stressed. 

This state of emotional instability often results in anxiety attacks and crying. 

Medical experts have listed many reasons for this, including:

• Nervous system hypersensitivity
• Hyperstimulation can cause emotional instability
• Stress hormones affect other hormones

Depression 

This results from a feeling of hopelessness, helplessness, and entrapment. 

Berry and Jennifer (2018) noted that depression can lead to anxiety and crying episodes. 

Many people who suffer from anxiety disorders also battle with this feeling of helplessness, hopelessness, and entrapment, which lead to depression and episodes of anxiety crying.

Side Effects of Medication

Anxiety attacks and crying can be side effects of many medications. 

Experts have identified Beta-blockers, corticosteroids, antipsychotics, antidepressants, hormone-altering drugs, stimulants, anticonvulsants, Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), statins, and anticholinergic drugs as common medications that cause crying as a side effect.

Different people respond in different ways to anxiety attacks. 

A side effect triggered by an overwhelming physical or emotional experience. 

Although some do not cry preceding, during, or after anxiety attacks, many others experience the emotion so intensely that it provokes tears (Rosmarin, 2011).

Sometimes, anxiety attacks happen for no obvious reason.

Dr. Abrar Hussain describes anticipatory anxiety and anxiety due to PTSD.

It is indeed possible to grow out of an anxiety attack by crying. 

But to do this, the appropriate triggers need to be identified and addressed.

Dealing With Anxiety Attack Crying

Address Your Anxiety Issue

The first step to getting over anxiety attack crying would be to directly address the anxiety. 

Take note of the root cause of the anxiety. Refuse to nurture it. 

Replace an anxiety attitude with a healthy attitude. 

Addressing your anxiety issue will reduce the spate of anxiety attacks crying and ultimately create a healthy mental state. 

Several self-help resources could help with this, but I'd recommend going through anxiety management resources on this site.

Eliminate Chronic Stress

Trends in the world today make people take up multiple jobs, struggle to meet deadlines, and have little time for relaxation. 

It is only normal to sometimes respond to many of these situations with anxiety attacks by crying. 

Create times to relax. 

Go swimming.

Take deep breaths. 

Work out. 

And play some good music. 

These will help calm your nerves and prepare you to tackle any challenges with fresh perspectives.  

Change Or Stop Medications

If your current medication causes you anxiety or crying, you might need to speak to your doctor about a change in prescription. 

Do not take any steps without first of all conferring with your doctor.

A Change Of Attitude 

The attitudes and habituated behaviors we have imbibed are not exactly healthy for our mental health. 

Emotions play a huge part in our daily lives and when not harnessed properly could result in depression and anxiety attack crying episodes. 

For example, overreacting to situations can trigger emotional stress and consistency in this behavior will eventually lead to anxiety attacks and the associated crying episodes. 

Research has shown that emotional stress triggers anxiety attacks and crying (Sanders, Robert, 2016).

Use a Self-Soothe Box

A self soothe box contains some of your favourite things that you could focus your mind on to distract you from whatever is presently triggering anxiety attack crying.

Seek Therapy

Speaking to a professional anxiety disorder therapist could help you make behavioural and attitudinal changes that will help you overcome anxiety and its symptoms, including anxiety attack crying episodes.

Working with a professional anxiety disorder therapist is the most effective way to combat anxiety attack crying (David, Daniel, et al, 2018).

Conclusion

People frequently  face situations that trigger anxiety attacks and crying.

This response, however, is based on individual perceptions of the degree of stress, threat or danger. 

Researchers have proven that some anxiety attack crying spells happen for no reason or merely in anticipation of imaginary threats rather than imminent danger. 

Anxiety attacks and crying can be overcome by employing the proven measures explained in this article. 

You do not have to keep suffering the embarrassment that comes with anxiety attacks or crying. 

Create a relaxed atmosphere around you, take out time to refresh yourself, take deep breaths, eat healthy, focus on the things that make you happy, and most importantly, speak to someone about your anxiety issues.

Resources 

https://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-disorders/symptoms/anxiety-crying/#15

https://www.centerforanxiety.org/

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wellandgood.com/what-is-anxiety-crying/amp/

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/anxiety-and-panic-attacks/panic-attacks/