Anxiety and panic are two terms often used interchangeably, but they represent distinct mental health conditions. If you are wondering what is the difference between anxiety attack vs panic attack, I hope this article will explain more. While both an anxiety attack and panic attack can be distressing, understanding the differences between anxiety attacks and panic attacks is crucial for effective management and support. I help people with anxiety attacks and panic attacks. I use hypnotherapy, coaching and Mindfulness. I run session sin London and online. Get in touch to find out more.
Anxiety attack vs panic attack – what’s the difference?
If you would like to know more about anxiety attack vs panic attack in terms of symptoms, let’s delve more into anxiety first.
Don’t forget that anxiety is a normal human emotion and experience. Anxiety can be a healthy response to perceived threats or challenges. Anxiety is a feeling of unease, worry, or fear. This usually is accompanied by physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat, sweating, or some difficulty breathing. When anxiety becomes excessive or persistent, it can interfere with daily life and lead to anxiety disorders.
What is a Panic Attack?
When we think about an anxiety attack vs panic attack, we move up a notch in symptom level. A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear or discomfort that can occur without a clear trigger. It typically involves a cluster of physical symptoms. Really a panic attack is not just anxiety but now the fear of experiencing anxiety. Meaning you begin to dislike how anxiety feels and worry about feeling anxious. Signs of a panic attack can include:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Sweating
- Trembling or shaking
- Feeling breathless
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- Feeling like you might faint
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Nausea or upset stomach
- Feeling hot or cold
- Numbness or tingling sensations
- Derealisation (feeling detached from reality) or depersonalisation (feeling detached from oneself)
A panic attack can be incredibly frightening and overwhelming. Since you now fear experience anxiety, you may then begin to fear having another panic attack. So, when it comes to anxiety attack vs panic attack, you can see that a panic attack would usually be stronger and feel worse.
The Fight, Flight, or Freeze Response
Both anxiety and panic attacks often involve the activation of the body’s fight, flight, or freeze responses. This is a natural survival mechanism that prepares the body to respond to a perceived threat.
- Fight: The body prepares to fight off the threat by increasing muscle tension, heart rate, and blood pressure.
- Flight: The body prepares to escape the threat by increasing heart rate, breathing rate, and blood flow to the muscles.
- Freeze: The body may become paralyzed or immobile as a defence mechanism, hoping to avoid detection.
Anxiety Attack vs Panic Attack: Key Differences
While both anxiety and panic attacks can be distressing, there are some key differences between them. Let’s consider again anxiety attack vs panic attack symptoms.
- Duration: Anxiety attacks can last for minutes, hours, or even days, while panic attacks typically last for a brief period, often peaking within 10 minutes.
- Triggers: Anxiety attacks often have identifiable triggers, such as stressful situations or worrying thoughts. Panic attacks, on the other hand, can occur unexpectedly without a clear trigger.
- Fear: Anxiety often involves a sense of worry or apprehension about future events, while panic attacks are characterized by intense fear or discomfort in the present moment.
Physical symptoms: Both anxiety and panic attacks can involve physical symptoms, but panic attacks tend to have more intense and sudden physical symptoms. Importantly though they may feel intense, panic attacks are not dangerous. You might imagine that you may have a heart attack or similar, but that is because the feeling is intense. For the vast majority of people a panic attack reduces after 20 or so minutes. If you do have a history of heart problems, you may wish to have that checked. However anxiety itself usually won’t harm you, when a person is otherwise in good health.
Living with Anxiety and Panic
If you’re struggling with anxiety or panic attacks, it’s important to seek professional help. I help people with anxiety and panic attacks using hypnotherapy. Maybe I can help you also. We also look at effective strategies for managing these anxiety experiences. conditions, such as:
- Hypnotherapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT): These therapies help to identify, challenge and shift negative thought patterns that contribute to anxiety and panic.
- Mindfulness: Mindfulness is a great tool for calming the body and mind. I use mindfulness with clients and it helps you feel less anxious and is a skill to use when feeling stress or panic.
Anxiety attack vs panic attack help
Anxiety and panic attacks can be challenging to cope with. To understand the differences between these conditions and for help, consider hypnotherapy. I hope this article has helped explain anxiety attack vs panic attack symptoms and differences. Get in touch to see how hypnotherapy can help you feel calmer and manage anxiety better.
