Difference Between Anxiety Attack and Panic Attack: everything You Need to Know

Many people often find it difficult to distinguish between a panic attack and an anxiety attack. While they share some similar symptoms, the severity, duration, and triggers greatly differ. Let’s delve deep into understanding these two terms and how they impact our lives.

Understanding the Difference: anxiety Attack vs Panic Attack

The Intensity Factor

Anxiety attacks and panic attacks primarily diverge in their intensity. Anxiety attacks are more common and can be experienced by everyone, whereas panic attacks are generally rare or even unique. A panic attack is a sudden and intense experience, often terrifying, that can occur anywhere.

The Psychological Aspect

A crucial distinction lies in the cause of these episodes. Panic attack is a symptom of a psychological disorder, unlike an anxiety attack which can be linked to a specific situation. Panic attacks are often typified by intense physical symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath etc.

After gaining this base understanding of the two phenomena’s nature, let’s focus on their manifestations.

Identifying Symptoms: when Anxiety Becomes Acute

The Duration

A panic attack typically lasts for 20 to 30 minutes during which the individual may lose control and experience an intense fear of dying or going insane.

The Aftermath

Beyond the panic attack episodes themselves, the affected individual may constantly feel anxious about having another episode. Symptoms of agoraphobia may also appear.

Now that we have identified our enemy clearly let’s learn how to react when facing it.

What to do: responding Effectively During an Episode

Panic Attacks

Panic attacks often bring with them intense fear, a sense of unreality or unfamiliarity with your surroundings (derealization), a feeling of disconnection from your own body (depersonalization), and a sensation of losing control. These can be triggered abruptly, and symptoms reach their peak within 10 minutes.

Post-Attack Symptoms

The crisis resolves itself within a few minutes to hours, leading to relief but also potentially followed by intense fatigue.

Having prepared ourselves on how to react during the episodes, it’s essential that we understand deeper causes and available treatments.

Panic Disorder: knowing Causes and Available Treatments

Chronic Panic Attacks

It is important to note that although panic attacks can occur in isolation in anyone, their repetition and chronification may lead to a panic disorder requiring specific treatment.

In summary, while anxiety and panic attacks share some common traits, they differ significantly in intensity, cause, physical manifestation, duration, aftermath effect. Understanding these differences helps individuals identify which one they are experiencing and seek appropriate help. Arm yourself with knowledge; let’s not allow anxiety or panic win the battle !