Panic Attack & Anxiety Attack - Difference, Symptoms, Risks & Causes

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.

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.

1. Emotional Symptoms

Here are the common symptoms seen in panic and anxiety attacks. 

• Difficulty in concentrating 
• Restlessness 
• Irritability 
• Apprehension and worry 
• Fear and distress
• Feelings of derealisation 
• Fear of losing control 
• Feelings of detachment
• Fear of death 

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.

2. Physical Symptoms

The physical symptoms are almost the same in both types of attacks. These are as follows. 

• Heart palpitations 
• Chest pain 
• Sweating 
• Shortness of breath 
• Dry mouth 
• Hot flashes or chills 
• Shaking 
• Tightness in the throat
• Numbness or tingling 
• Nausea and abdominal pain 
• Headache and dizziness 

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. 

• Environmental stressors
• A stressful job 
• Bad social situations 
• Phobias
• Memories of past trauma 
• Chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart diseases, asthma and bowel issues 
• Withdrawal from drugs and alcohol 
• Excessive caffeine 
• Medication or supplement reactions 
• Thyroid problems 

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. 

• Traumatic experiences (as a child or an adult)
• Family history of anxiety
• Stressful life events 
• Death of close ones
• Chronic health issues 
• Regular drug or alcohol consumption 

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. 

Counselling and Psychotherapy

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. 

• Cognitive Therapy: This therapy is used to identify and work on the thoughts that usually result in panic or anxiety. To avoid an attack, you can neutralise and reframe such thoughts into positive ones. 
• Exposure Therapy: This therapy involves using controlled exposure to specific situations and triggers that can end up causing fear, anxiety and panic. It helps you to confront such problems and get over the fear. 
• Cognitive-behavioural Therapy (CBT): This therapy allows you to think and see situations in a different way. Counsellors talk to you and help you identify the reason behind your paranoia, thereby avoiding threats.

Medication

Another standard treatment method comes in the form of medication. Common medicines prescribed in this case are as follows. 

• Antidepressants: Doctors often prescribe selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These are effective antidepressants for your mental health. 
• Anti-anxiety Drugs: These help control your anxiety disorder, thereby blocking an attack. Doctors might suggest sedatives like benzodiazepines. 
• Beta-blockers: These medicines help you manage the physical symptoms commonly seen during anxiety and panic attacks. Rapid heart rates and palpitations can be blocked with these.

Home Remedies

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. 

• Take Deep Breaths: Start taking deep breaths and focus on your inhale and exhales. Then, try to stabilise them while filling your stomach with air. Repeat the process until your breathing calms down. 
• Accepting the Reality: You should always accept that you are having an attack because of disrupted mental health. Particularly, if you have experienced such incidents before, it becomes easier to recognise them.
• Being More Mindful: Mindfulness is a technique which allows you to keep your thoughts grounded in the present. This way, you can avoid returning to the memories of traumatic incidents in the past while having an attack. 
• Using Relaxation Techniques: Relaxation techniques like aromatherapy, medication, and imagery have become popular in recent times to manage anxiety and panic attacks. For example, you can close your eyes to concentrate, take a relaxing bath, or divert your mind.

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. 

• You can contact the doctor if you feel you are overthinking, which is affecting your physical and mental health. 
• You should get in touch with a professional if you cannot control fear, anxiety and a constant state of worry. 
• If you are depressed and addicted to alcohol or illegal drug consumption, it will be ideal to contact the doctor. 
• Getting professional help is mandatory if you start having suicidal thoughts or tendencies.

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. 

• Reduce stress from life by avoiding overworking or being involved in everyday stressful situations. 
• Practice meditation, yoga and other relaxation techniques to concentrate.
• Avoid negative thoughts and ideas by practising positive thinking. 
• Maintain a balanced diet. 
• Join support groups with people that deal with similar attacks. 
• Draw limits to alcohol consumption and avoid consuming illegal drugs. 
• Indulge in physical exercises and try going out and socialising. 

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.