The Difference between a Panic Attack and an Anxiety Attack
Panic attacks and anxiety attacks are very different. In general, an attack of panic is considered to be more severe than an attack of anxiety. Many people who are experiencing panic attacks also experience anxiety attacks. It’s absolutely normal to experience both types of stressors at the same time. This can lead to confusion, indigestion, and fatigue. How do you know if you’re experiencing a panic attack or an anxiety attack? Here’s what you need to know.
What is a Panic Attack?
A panic attack is a sudden and intense rush of feelings that can come on quickly after a stressful event. The feelings may be intense, but they’re not overwhelming. You’re likely to have a panic attack if you’ve ever been in a traffic jam or been around crowds of people. You should also avoid socializing with people who might also be experiencing panic attacks. The closer you are to someone with a panic attack, the more likely you are to get it if you experience it. In general, a panic attack lasts for only a few hours or even days. An anxiety attack lasts longer but may also be triggered by negative internal stimuli such as a TV show, a news story, or a movie. Both attacks and withdrawals are different and have different symptoms.
What is an Anxiety Attack?
An anxiety attack is a form of stress disorder. The attack is often lower in intensity than a panic attack, but it’s still significant. It’s often accompanied by anxiety symptoms such as a racing heart, shakiness of the hands, sweating, shakiness of the limbs, and an inability to stand or sit still. If you have an anxiety attack, it’s normal to feel nervous or jittery. But an anxiety attack is different from a panic attack because it’s not a sign of panic. Instead, it’s the result of a struggle for self-esteem.
How to Help with an Anxiety Attack?
There are a few things you can do to help with an anxiety attack:
1. If you’re dealing with a panic attack, seek help as soon as possible.
2. If you’re dealing with an anxiety attack, try to relax and ignore your feelings. Focus on what you need to do to get through the day, such as walking to the grocery store, getting ready for bed, or taking care of your mental health.
3. You can also do different breathing practices or meditate.
There are a couple of things to take note of before you call it an end:
1. Don’t try to resolve your issues before you’ve fully assessed them. Get to know your issues and see if they can be resolved together. If they can’t, then move on to the next issue.
2. Don’t put pressure on yourself if you don’t feel like you’ve accomplished anything. If you feel like you haven’t done anything significant yet, take a deep breath and come to terms with that.
3. Do your best to keep your emotions in check. You need to be careful when you’re feeling like a fraud because everyone feels like that sometimes too. If you overthink things or feel like there’s something wrong with you, you may fall into the trap of a panic attack.
This article is written by a therapist from Sensera – a self-help app that provides daily CBT audio sessions and exercises. The app helps people deal with a variety of mental issues (anxiety, low self-esteem, and relationship problems). Download Sensera now to become happier!
