Is there a difference between a panic attack and an anxiety attack.
Anxiety and panic attack are two different things but considered same. In this article we will discuss significant differences between both of them.
Although it can be distracting and disturbing anxiety is completely normal part of life, most of us experience anxiety on some part of our lives usually surrounding a stressful situation such as exam or first day of job about 18-20% of Americans are diagnosed with generalize anxiety disorder (GOD) anxiety is a common experience when presentation of anxiety meets certain criteria such as GAD it becomes a disorder The same relationship distinguishes individual panic attacks from panic attacks from panic disorders chronic and disturbing condition that effects 2-3% of adult Americans reoccurring panic attacks can be considered panic disorder when the individual begins to live in a fear of experiencing more attacks. just as anxiety and GAD are use interchangeable despite having different experiences, panic disorder has often misunderstood with severe anxiety while two are related as panic disorder falls under the category of anxiety but they are not interchangeable because of distinct ways its reflect on presents itself.
Here are most significant differences between anxiety and panic.
Anxiety can last much longer
Fortunately for those who suffers from panic attacks episodes are usually short lived when from first 10 minutes of beginning according to a research multiple growing attacks can come and go for several hours at a time of course the frequency vary from person to person so no 2 experiences are necessary to be same. Anxiety on the other hand can be much more long term, you can think of as change in ones day to day behavior rather than rather can considering as a severe distress. Some last for years even with medications but just like panic attacks no two cases can be considered same.
Panic is specific while anxiety is more general
A panic attack is a specific event that with specific characteristics and involve intense or danger symptoms whereas anxiety is a more of a general term relate to stress and worry neither anxiety or panic attacks needs an specific trigger to cause it but anxiety can also cause generalize stress and worry about the future, past and even hypothetical events. Panic attacks often occur out of the blue without any triggers present, that doesn’t mean triggers that can cause panic doesn’t exists but the lack of causality can make these random attacks more disturbing. Anxiety attacks on the other hand typically occurs in relation to a specific event, situation or thought that triggers the unwanted response while anxiety
disorders can disturbs a person’s life even when the triggers are not present.
They have different symptoms
Although both disorders are based on severe sense of worry or fear they express themselves in different ways, according to a research the GAD includes generalize symptoms like irritability, feelings of worry, trouble concentration and feeling intense or jumpy symptoms of panic attack on the other hand are more severe that anxiety includes sweating, shaking, chest pain, rapid heart rate even numbness or sensations of choking.
Panic attacks are more sudden
symptoms of anxiety attacks tends to show themselves more gradually when expose to a trigger while if anxiety disorders becomes so long term heir symptoms become so constant that it is hard to tell that when it begins or ends. According to research in panic attacks symptoms are much more distinct where symptoms come suddenly and noticeably rather than building up gradually over time. the acute nature of panic symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath have lead many to mistake their symptoms to heart attack. Luckily panic attacks are not life threatening and can often resolve on its own in a very short amount of time
Panic attacks can leave you feeling unreal and out of control
For many the scariest symptom of panic attack is the physical sensations and the mental unrest. In a research about mental illness it is described that you are getting these feelings from your own surroundings that this world isn’t real. The most unreal symptoms is in which it is felt like the person feels separated for his own self. This disorientation is also a part of panic attacks the main difference between anxiety and panic disorder are that anxiety lasts longer and panic attack is short while panic is specific anxiety is more of a general thing and they have different symptoms.