Anxiety and panic attacks can severely impact an individual's life, yet they are two separate mental health issues. This blog will cover the differences between them through symptoms and research done by others.
What is an Anxiety Attack?
Anxiety attacks are intense episodes of distress and fear. According to The Mayo Clinic, an anxiety attack is when the individual experiences intense fear accompanied by increased heart rate, sweating, choking, etc. These episodes can happen suddenly. Anyone can experience an anxiety attack. Various stressors often trigger them. They can also have a negative impact on physical health.
What is a Panic Attack?
A panic attack is a version of an anxiety disorder. It occurs spontaneously. According to Rosenblat and McIntyre, a panic attack is an intense fear or terror episode with physical symptoms such as chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, sweating, shaking, and dizziness, lasting up to a few hours. Generally, a person experiencing a panic attack does not feel in danger, but the physical symptoms can be intense and lead to further anxiety and distress. Various situations, such as stress, financial problems, relationship problems, or physical illness, can trigger panic attacks.
The Difference Between the Two
Most people view anxiety and panic attacks as the same experience, but, in reality, they are very different. Anxiety is a feeling of fear often triggered by a specific event. Panic attacks, on the other hand, are intense periods of fear that occur out of the blue. Even though panic and anxiety attacks possess similar physical symptoms, an individual's internal feeling during them differentiates them. Furthermore, it is crucial to understand that both phenomena require different types of treatment to manage them.
Resources
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anxiety/symptoms-causes/syc-20350961
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