It is not uncommon for panic attacks and anxiety attacks to be thought of as the same thing. In reality, although they feel similar, there are differences between the two of them. Typically, the difference between anxiety attack and panic attack is the intensity and length of the symptoms, with panic attacks usually shorter and much more intense whereas anxiety attacks can last for a much longer time. Either way, both can be very disruptive and make it difficult to continue our everyday lives.
Panic Attacks
Have you ever felt as though you were having a heart attack or you were going to die? This is more like a panic attack than an anxiety attack. The intensity of it can be extreme, to say the least, and it can leave you very shaken up for a long time afterwards.
The usual symptoms of a panic attack can include:
Sense of detachment from reality
Shortness of breath
Tightness in the chest
Tightness in the throat
Pounding heart
Shaking
Sweating
Sense of impending doom
Intense fear
Dizziness
Nausea
People who do not suffer from a mental illness can still experience a panic attack in their lifetime. Often the problem will go away on its own when the triggering situation has subsided. This however, does not stop us from experiencing the fear that another panic attack could happen at any time. It is often this fear of fear that can lead to an anxious state and generalized anxiety disorder and anxiety attacks. I will share some information later in this post for dealing with panic attacks and the anxiety around having another panic attack.
What is important to remember is that although it may feel like you are going to die, nobody has ever actually died from a panic attack. If you are able to keep this in mind it may help you to reduce the severity of your panic attacks.
Anxiety Attacks
As mentioned above, an anxiety attack is different to a panic attack. Anxiety attacks are usually far less intense than a panic attack, however the symptoms usually persist for a longer period of time. Often there is no sense of detachment from reality like there is with a panic attack, but there is a greater and longer lasting sense of worry and it can also cause disturbances in our sleep.
Diagnosis For Anxiety And Panic Attacks
As with all mental illness concerns, the first thing you should do is consult your doctor to get a proper diagnosis. All treatments will stem from this initial medical consultation. Sometimes there are underlying medical conditions that are contributing to your anxiety, so your doctor will be able to run some tests to rule these out. After asking several questions about the symptoms you have been suffering from, your doctor will then be able to make a diagnosis. This could include:
Panic disorder
Phobia
Separation anxiety disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder
Post traumatic stress disorder
Treatment For Anxiety And Panic Attacks
Panic attacks can be difficult to treat as they come on suddenly and are usually over within 10 mins. It’s also impossible to know when your next panic attack is going to happen. Quite often we can be stuck in a state of general anxiety brought about by the fear of having our next panic attack.
Read on to the bottom of the article for a solution that worked for me to get rid of panic attacks.
One or more of the following may be recommended by your doctor to treat your anxiety and panic attacks:
Psychotherapy or talk therapy – discussing your symptoms with a psychiatrist or psychologist can help you to better understand your symptoms and triggers and give you ideas and strategies for how to manage them. A great strategy for coping with anxiety is CBT.
Mindful meditation – being able to control your breathing and relax your body and mind is a great ability to have, especially when dealing with anxiety and panic attacks.
Medication – these can be short term solutions to get symptoms under control, such as valium, or otherwise known as diazepam. There are other medications which are more suited to the longer term which help to reduce your overall anxiety.
You can also read more tips on how to calm anxiety by clicking here
How I Successfully Treated Anxiety And Panic Attacks
I remember how things used to be for me when I first started suffering anxiety attacks and panic attacks. I had no idea what to do initially, other than to take a valium and try to wish my symptoms away. I ended up being diagnosed with major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and agoraphobia. The agoraphobia was brought about by my fears associated with my anxiety.
After years of talk therapy and trialing various medications, I came across a product called Panic Away. It was written specifically for people who suffer from panic attacks and anxiety attacks and when he discussed what he calls the panic loop, where the fear of having another panic attack leads to more anxiety, I knew I was dealing with someone who could relate exactly to what I was experiencing.
I purchased the product straight away with hopes high and I wasn’t disappointed. The information contained in it is absolute gold and it gave me real and actionable strategies that I was successfully able to use to reduce my overall anxiety and to easily deal with panic attacks whenever they came up.
Anyway, I won’t keep going on about Panic Away but I’m sure that you get the point. If you want to read more about it then you can read my full Panic Attack review, or you can just head straight to their website using this link. I can’t guarantee that you will have the same results as what I did, but the product does come with a full 60 day money back guarantee so there is nothing to lose (except your anxiety!)
Please note – the product links on this page are affiliate links, meaning I receive a commission if you make a purchase through that link. It doesn’t cost you anything extra and helps me to keep the website running.
