*Ever wonder what the difference is between anxiety attacks and panic attacks?
Per Healthline, “anxiety is often triggered by certain stressors and may build gradually,” while “panic attacks can occur unexpectedly and abruptly.”
Panic attacks “involve intense and often overwhelming fear” and physical symptoms typically include “a racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, or nausea.” Anyone can suffer a panic attack but if they occur often, this could be a sign of panic disorder, which is a mental health condition.
Anxiety attacks tend to be triggered by common psychiatric disorders, such as worry, stress, and fear, according to Healthline.
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Panic and anxiety share similar emotional and physical symptoms. You can experience both a panic attack and an anxiety attack at the same time. Per Healthline, both cause physical and emotional symptoms that include:
- apprehension and worry
- distress
- fear of dying or losing control
- a sense of detachment from the world (derealization) or oneself (depersonalization)
- heart palpitations or an accelerated heart rate
- chest pain
- shortness of breath
- tightness in the throat or feeling like you’re choking
- dry mouth
- sweating
- chills or hot flashes
- trembling or shaking
- numbness or tingling (paresthesia)
- nausea, abdominal pain, or upset stomach
- headache
- feeling faint or dizzy
Per Healthline, anxiety and panic attacks have similar risk factors that include:
- experiencing trauma or witnessing traumatic events, either as a child or as an adult
- experiencing a stressful life event, like the death of a loved one or a divorce
- experiencing ongoing stress and worries, like work responsibilities, conflict in your family, or financial woes
- living with a chronic health condition or life threatening illness
- having an anxious personality
- having another mental health condition like depression
- having close family members who also have anxiety or panic disorders
- using drugs or consuming alcohol
Doctors can’t diagnose anxiety attacks, but they can diagnose:
- anxiety symptoms
- anxiety disorders
- panic attacks
- panic disorders
Read more about panic attacks and anxiety here, and learn when it’s time to get a consultation from a doctor.
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