The Difference Between a Panic Attack and an Anxiety Attack
Panic attack and anxiety attack are terms that are used often. In the world of today, it seems like almost everyone has dealt with this at some point in their life. That being said, the symptoms of a panic attack and an anxiety attack, as similar as they are, still differ. Today we are going to talk about both, and how they differ from one another.
Differences
Any professional treating panic and anxiety attacks will tell you they feel similar. The key is to know the differences between them and distinguish the two in a given situation. The best way to describe the difference is to observe the intensity of the symptoms. Another way would be to look at the length of time when the main symptoms occur. The anxiety attacks can last for months at a time. But when it comes to panic attacks, they come and go within about 10 minutes.
Symptoms
As we mentioned there is a difference between panic and anxiety attacks. Now we are going to take a closer look at them, separately. This can help you distinguish them in the future.
Panic Attack
The panic attack represents a sudden fear and petrification, however, it also follows several other physical and mental symptoms. You can spot a panic attack easily because the symptoms are always severe. They disrupt the normal flow of your day.
Some of the mental symptoms that you can notice are:
- Fear of dying
- Fear that you are going crazy and losing the grip of your life
- Feeling like you are out of touch with reality
- Feeling of detachment from yourself
Some of the physical symptoms that you can notice are:
- Hot flashes
- Nausea and abdominal stress
- Trembling, shaking, lightheadedness, feeling of being unsteady and faint
- Chest pain and feeling of choking
- Numbness and tingling
- Difficulty breathing and lack of breath overall
- Pounding heart, heart palpitations, accelerated heart rate
Anxiety Attack
The anxiety attack presents symptoms that build up over some time. They intensify as you worry excessively about a particular matter. As the anticipation or the level of worry continues and increases, it comes to a boiling point. This means that the body is unable to cope with the stress and reacts by having an attack.
Some of the mental symptoms that you can notice are:
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Having trouble concentrating
Some of the physical symptoms that you can notice are:
- Increased heart rate
- Fatigue
- Tension in the muscles
- Increased startle response
- Trouble sleeping
- Dizziness
The bad thing about panic and anxiety attacks is that they can potentially disrupt your everyday life. If they continue for a longer time, they may even have some long-term effects on your body and mind. This is why you need to treat them as soon as you discover them. In essence, help is always available, so make sure to talk to a health professional and explain your symptoms. Take it from there and try to maintain your optimal level of health!
If you liked this blog, feel free to browse through our other content where we dig deeper into a healthy lifestyle and answering common health questions.