Two common issues in mental health are often associated with panic attacks and anxiety attacks. While these two might sound interchangeable, there are some significant differences between the two. Understanding these differences will help you distinguish between the two kinds of mental health issues.
Are you curious to understand the differences between these two types of attacks? Then, keep reading this article to learn about panic attacks vs anxiety attacks.
Anxiety is a response to a stress or threat, which acts as a trigger. It builds up and intensifies feelings of anxiety over a certain period. When you are exposed to situations correlated with excessive worry, fear and tension, the feelings slowly intensify, and you become overwhelmed. This is when you finally may face an attack.
According to the reports of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, nearly 6.8 million Americans deal with anxiety every year. It makes anxiety one of the top mental illnesses in the US. Such attacks can be hereditary. While some symptoms and risks are related to a panic attack, anxiety attacks can stay much longer.
The term panic attack is more well-known than anxiety attack. However, it is different. Unlike anxiety attacks, panic attacks are sudden and can occur without a particular trigger. It hardly builds over time and can show symptoms immediately following an incident of trauma or terror. There can be more physical symptoms in such attacks than anxiety attacks.
In most cases, panic attacks are unexpected and accidental, based on the situation and possible consequences. External stressors like phobias can contribute to these, which causes expected panic attacks. However, they stay for a lesser time, usually around 10-15 minutes.
Knowing the difference between a panic attack and an anxiety attack can be effective if you are trying to learn more about mental health issues. The following table will help you understand some common differences between the two.
|
Parameters |
Panic attack |
Anxiety attack |
|
Concept and meaning |
It is an attack with intense and sudden feelings of fear and terror. There is also significant discomfort associated with it. |
It is a type of attack which intensifies over a period. Various incidents trigger such an attack, which ultimately becomes overwhelming. |
|
Symptoms |
Chest pain, hot flashes and a mental state of detachment are usually seen as symptoms. |
Some common symptoms include fatigue, restlessness and muscle tension. There can also be a feeling of irritability. |
|
Causes |
It might or might not include a trigger. Often, it is a sudden attack and can last for a short time. |
It usually occurs from a trigger like a threat or perceived stress. Such attacks are not sudden; they build over time and can last for months. |
|
Risks |
Some common risks can come from a family medical history and chronic depression. Stressful events and past trauma can also be significant risks for such attacks. |
While depression is a common trigger, substance abuse and physical health issues can be significant risks. Other risks can come from poor quality of life and social isolation. |
Some of these might overlap when it comes to the symptoms of a panic attack and anxiety attack. Usually, there are two kinds of symptoms, including physical and mental symptoms. These are discussed in detail below.
Here are the common symptoms seen in panic and anxiety attacks.
As can be observed, feelings of fear and vulnerability are common in both these attacks. However, when it comes to anxiety, the emotions have been building over time. Therefore, people experience difficulty concentrating on work and major restlessness, disrupting a daily workflow. However, anxiety can sometimes have mild effects.
On the other hand, a panic disorder comes with profound mental issues, like fear of death or losing control over the situation. There is also a familiar feeling of detachment from oneself and others. These are serious mental issues that occur with a panic attack but fortunately do not stay for a long time.
The physical symptoms are almost the same in both types of attacks. These are as follows.
While the physical symptoms are similar in both cases, the consequences can differ. For instance, since panic attacks stay for a short period and then subside, the physical symptoms do not cause much damage. On the other hand, anxiety attacks remain for a more extended period. This causes the patients to feel more fatigue and dizziness safer than an anxiety attack compared to a panic attack.
The exact causes of panic attacks are unclear, as they can occur with or without any particular trigger. As discussed, panic attacks are mostly sudden and unexpected due to some unfortunate event in the present scenario. However, in some cases, there can be expected panic attacks. Moreover, the causes of expected panic attacks and regular anxiety attacks can be similar. These are stressors or triggers from the external environment, as listed below.
This situation often triggers attacks, which can be either anxiety or panic attacks. Usually, anxiety is highly hereditary, which makes anxiety somewhat a personality trait. Few people can be extremely anxious in general, which causes anxiety attacks quickly during such situations.
Panic, on the other hand, can happen to anyone in a difficult situation. This makes it more severe, as it causes even calm people to start getting scared and losing control. The best way to distinguish between the two is to record the time for which they are effective.
The risk factors for both panic and anxiety attacks are similar. Some common risk factors visible in both cases are listed below.
These are the common risk factors that can cause panic or anxiety attacks. However, in most cases, there are no defined risk factors for panic attacks, as any difficult situation or pressure can cause it.
As both anxiety and panic attacks can be similar to each other, their diagnosis is crucial. Therefore, doctors and healthcare professionals use the definitions as per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), to diagnose these conditions.
Once you visit the healthcare centre, doctors will likely ask about the symptoms and your medical history. Moreover, they might ask for medical reports of your illnesses like heart disease or thyroid, if any.
They might conduct the following tests and examinations to identify the proper condition.
Physical exam
Blood tests
Heart tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
Psychological evaluation with a questionnaire
When it comes to the treatment of a panic disorder or anxiety issues, the process is quite similar. The following three types of treatments are commonly followed.
As both anxiety and panic are associated with mental health, psychotherapy and counselling are considered the most effective treatment methods. These might include the following methods.
Another standard treatment method comes in the form of medication. Common medicines prescribed in this case are as follows.
There are also some home remedies you can try if there is not enough time or resources to take professional help. While these can be helpful initially, seeking professional help is always advisable. Here are some of the common remedies you can follow during an attack.
You should see a doctor if you start observing the common symptoms of anxiety or panic attacks. However, it might not always be possible between the attacks. For example, you should contact a healthcare professional if you experience the following.
The best way to prevent anxiety and panic attacks is by making lifestyle changes. Here are common changes that will help you cope with your mental health issues.
Hopefully, now you have a better idea when searching for panic attacks VS anxiety attacks. They might sound similar, but the two have specific underlying differences. Knowing about these will help you avoid the common negativities and risk factors, thereby managing attacks. As this article pointed out, you should seek professional help in such situations.
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