It’s difficult to identify whether you’re having an anxiety attack or a panic attack. Because there are many similarities between anxiety and a panic attack. Nowadays, what is the difference between anxiety and panic attacks? is a point of contention. Many therapists and medical professionals disagree on how they differ. Scientific sources are unable to define each one, besides, these experts’ different opinions. For these reasons, many patients receive inaccurate diagnoses. Furthering the confusion, people with panic disorder and social anxiety are often mixed together. But, in reality, they are two different conditions. Understanding the difference between anxiety and panic attacks may help you determine what you are experiencing.
Anxiety and panic episodes are both psychological diseases that manifest physically. Such includes a fast heartbeat, sweating, and a scared feeling. Some people may also feel nauseated and have difficulty breathing easily. It may be difficult to distinguish between anxiety and panic episodes. The following details can help you in understanding the difference between them, how they might develop, as well as what treatments are available.
Understanding The Difference Between Anxiety And Panic Attacks
Is it an anxiety or panic attack? Although the fact that they are not the same, the names are frequently used interchangeably. However, these phrases are used to describe specific diseases and disorders by mental health specialists.
Some emotional and physical symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks are similar. when the degree of symptom intensity and the length of the primary symptom duration are contrasted. Between panic and anxiety episodes, there are clear distinctions. Anxiety can continue for months, although panic episodes often reach their height at roughly 10 minutes. Here is a simple explanation of the distinctions between anxiety and panic attacks.
- Anxiety is unpleasant at the time. But it may also encourage us and protect us from risks. Examples of anxiety include having major worries before a large examination, feeling extremely worried before a job presentation, and fearing before a medical exam.
- Anxiety disorders occur when it starts to affect everyday life. They can occur in a variety of ways, such as social anxiety, a fear of spiders or flight, or just a constant sense of worry and alertness. Sometimes, non-threatening events cause extreme concern and fear in people with anxiety disorders.
- Anxiety attacks technically do not exist, at least not in terms of medical. It is a colloquial phrase for a panic attack.
- Panic attacks are sudden onset, severe episodes of fear and dread. They are usually brought on by stressful circumstances. But sometimes it strikes without apparent cause. The body’s fight-or-flight reaction is activated unnecessarily. Panic episodes often last 15 to 20 minutes and are scary but not dangerous.
- Panic disorders are one of the anxiety disorders. When someone has multiple panic attacks, it occurs.
Given table may help you more to differentiate,
| Panic Attack | Anxiety |
| Sudden | Gradually increases |
| Lasts only moments | Potentially months |
| Trembling or swaying | Restlessness |
| Chest pain | Fatigue |
| A hot flash | Tense muscles |
| Feeling of distance | Irritability |
Panic attacks and anxiety attacks can both involve intense emotions. Although they present differently and often feel different from one another. Sometimes, the terms are interchangeable.
In order to correctly answer this question. You must know the differences between anxiety and panic as well as what cause anxiety and panic attacks.
What Is A Panic Attack?
A panic attack is a sudden onset of fear that is often followed by physical symptoms. Like nausea, a racing heart, or tightness in the chest. Research indicates that 23% of Americans have had panic attacks.
Panic attacks are episodic and mainly peak within a few minutes or hours. During panic attacks, a person may feel like his chest is squeezing and he is having a heart attack. While some feel they are losing control, others feel they are going insane. Even yet, some people feel they are dying because they are suffocating when they are simply out of breath. Last but not least, some people believe they have a fatal disease that has not yet been identified.
How Does An Panic Attack Feel Like?
Panic episodes are uncommon in humans. But, ask a group of people who have all experienced panic attacks what they’re like. They’ll almost certainly all describe their encounters as uneasy.
The following are signs and symptoms of panic attacks:
- Unrealistic feeling
- Chest ache
- Fear that is uncontrollable
- Sweating excessively
- The dread of dying
- Hot flushes, agitation, sleepiness, or faintness
- Experiencing emotional trauma
- Trembling or shaking
What Causes Panic Attacks?
Panic attacks have no known cause. But, they can be related to stress and sometimes to underlying mental health issues. Panic disorders, phobias, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are a few examples of mental health issues.
What Is An Anxiety Attack?
An anxiety attack comes when stress, worry, and anxiety reach their peak levels. It’s a result of ongoing anxiety, whether it’s about major events like fatal illnesses or minor issues of daily life. Long-term anxiety that builds to a breaking point leads to the attack.
An anxiety attack is more of a climax of anxiety than a true assault. Physical symptoms are brought on by these times of extreme concern, fear, and dread. Considering that they are the product of your anxiety, they feel more foreseeable.
Many people worry and fear excessively. But they wait a long time to get help because they think having anxiety is common. Often experiencing anxious feelings is not a normal way to live.
How Does An Anxiety Feel Like?
People can experience anxiety episodes in many ways, sometimes with very distinct results. Physical symptoms may appear when the body prepares itself to handle a problem. Like a racing or pounding heart, shakiness, nausea, or dizziness. Along with sleeping difficulties, some people may experience flushes, indigestion, and stomach pains.
During an anxiety episode, unnoticed cognitive symptoms may appear. Such as excessive worry, flashbacks, perfectionism, or feelings of tiredness or powerlessness. It’s possible that cognitive symptoms may not always come first.
The following symptoms are typical in anxiety attacks:
- Difficulty paying attention
- Sleep disturbances
- Increasing heart rate
- Restlessness
- Increased startle reaction
- Tense muscles
- Irritability
What Causes Anxiety Attacks?
Driving, and stress from either job or social circumstances might result in anxiety attacks. Attacks may also occur by excessive caffeine intake or drug or alcohol withdrawal.
They may occur from chronic pain or diseases like thyroid problems or heart disease. Supplements, prescriptions, phobias, and recollections of prior trauma are all taken into consideration.
Are Panic And Anxiety Attacks Capable To Occur At The Same Time?
Yes, as per experts, anxiety and panic attacks can happen at the same time. Imagine someone who is fearful to argue with a close friend or member of their family. Then, just as the altercation is about to begin, the situation causes a panic attack. The pre-panic symptoms of worry are still there during the attack. Only the panic attack’s severity will be able to hide them.
Many anxiety-related symptoms will remain and come back into focus after the panic attacks have gone. The anxiety is still present even if the panic attack has ended.
Anxiety And Panic Attacks Treatment
Effective treatments are available for anxiety and panic attacks. Therapy and psychotherapy, prescription drugs, and self-help techniques are a few well-known treatment methods.
You benefit from psychotherapy in different ways;
- Psychotherapy can help you better understand your symptoms. Come up with plans for controlling them, work with past pain, choose your course for the future, and get a clearer perspective that will enable a more optimistic attitude.
- To understand your symptoms
- Create plans for controlling them
- Deal with previously unpleasant situations and events
- Provide a clear perspective and a line of action.
- You can manage your symptoms with the help of medication for anxiety and panic attacks. Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, and Valium are some of the best medicine for anxiety and panic attacks.
- Self-help methods can control your symptoms at your own speed. Such as progressive muscular relaxation and breathing exercises.
For a well-rounded therapy, consider one or all three of these options.