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Oftentimes, the terms anxiety attack and panic attack — both mental health ailments — are used interchangeably to describe a situation. However, it is of utmost importance to know that they are not the same. According to Healthline, “An anxiety attack tends to occur in response to certain stressors and may build gradually, while panic attacks can occur unexpectedly and abruptly. Both may indicate an underlying health condition”.
Generally speaking, a panic attack is more severe than an anxiety attack. But high levels of anxiety and stress can also lead to panic attacks. However, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) does not mention anxiety attacks.
Explaining in detail, Dr Namita Ruparel , Assistant Professor at Jindal Institute of Behavioural Sciences, said that the onset of a panic attack is sudden, occurs without a warning, and could happen just by thinking of a ‘perceived threat’. “An anxiety attack, on the other hand, is generally rooted in present circumstances,” she told indianexpress.com.
The characteristic feature of a panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause. Suffering from prolonged anxiety can also trigger panic attacks.
“Panic is a precipitous feeling of fear which seems to be uncontrollable and keeps one from processing their environment clearly. It is also accompanied by physical and psychological symptoms. In such a situation, a sudden rise of fear that takes over an individual without any obvious reason. The onset of panic attack is sudden, occurs without a warning, there is seldom no way to stop it, and the reason for panic may not be related to reality; it usually arises from perceived threat”.
When suffering from a panic attack, you may experience sense of impending danger, pounding heart rate, sweating, trembling or shaking, chills, nausea, abdominal pain, tightness in your throat, among other things.
An anxiety attack usually involves a fear of some specific occurrence or problem that could happen. While anxiety is different from a panic attack, it can occur as part of an anxiety or panic disorder.
“A chain of unpleasant thoughts accompanied by worry, tension, nervousness, and intrusive thoughts about the future, and the expectation that something unpleasant may occur is termed as anxiety,” said Dr Ruparel, adding that it can cause changes “in the body, like heart rate, blood pressure, insulin levels, to name a few”.
Psychological backdrop of anxiety attack is the uncertainty of the future, prolonged with an intention to diffuse the threat.
While the physical symptoms experienced in panic attack and anxiety attacks are similar, there is a discrete distinction between the two. “Panic attacks are sudden while anxiety attacks are gradually built over thoughts,” Dr Ruparel told indianexpress.com.
She also shared:
– Panic attack lasts for a couple of minutes while anxiety can last for months.
– Anxiety causes restlessness, fatigue, muscle tension and irritability, while panic attacks cause shaking / trembling, chest pain, flashes of feeling hot or cold and a sense of detachment, from the self, the world, and loss of control.
Dr Ruparel concluded, “In either of the cases, awareness of the occurrence of these attacks is recommended to be followed by a formal diagnosis. Meditation, relaxation, breathing techniques may help in coping with panic attacks or anxiety attacks”.
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