Understanding the differences between a panic attack and an anxiety attack is critical in shaping the correct response to this common mental health condition. According to a recent study, finding the proper treatment from a residential anxiety treatment program or coping methods can be challenging when you don’t know what illness affects you. When you’re capable of recognizing the symptoms of both disorders, you can handle each case successfully when facing the attacks. Atlanta Center for Mental Health is here to help you understand the differences between a panic attack vs. an anxiety attack and help you cope with both.
Call us now at 833.625.0458 or contact us online.
What Are Panic Attacks?
A panic attack is a clinically recognized disorder, and before a healthcare professional diagnoses it, several criteria should be met. An individual with this condition may exhibit several symptoms, including:
- Fear of death or losing control
- Shaking or trembling
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Hot flashes
- Detachment from reality
Panic attack symptoms are short-lived and can last for ten to fifteen minutes. Some victims confuse them for heart attacks. One of the significant characteristics of a panic attack is the feeling of an immediate threat. During this time, the person can shout out for help or try to find ways to escape the perceived danger.
Panic attacks can come out of the blue when you least expect or due to a trigger response, such as a phobia. When a panic attack happens, the fight-or-flight body response controls you. As a result, you may experience heightened physical symptoms, more than those of anxiety.
The symptoms of a panic attack compared to an anxiety attack can affect anyone, but when they’re persistent, it could indicate a disorder. In most cases, anxiety disorders happen due to triggers, so the symptoms are not as intense when compared to panic attacks.
While some individuals may experience frequent panic attacks, most people often have one or two episodes in their lives. Frequent attacks may signify a panic disorder, so visit a mental health treatment center to manage the condition.
What Are Anxiety Attacks?
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), an anxiety attack may not be a clinically recognized medical disorder, but this doesn’t mean that its impact is not real. People with anxiety usually suffer from extended periods of extreme emotions. Many people experience stress at low levels daily, but the anxiousness may escalate in some instances. This can be sudden or gradual, leading to unusual anxiety.
The symptoms of anxiety attacks are more adverse when compared to everyday stress. Some of these symptoms include:
- Irritability
- Muscle tension
- Tiredness
- Restlessness
- Sleep problems
An anxiety attack sometimes occurs as a panic attack prelude. For example, someone who had a previous airplane panic attack may experience an anxiety attack while going to the airport.
However, an anxiety attack doesn’t necessarily mean that you have an anxiety disorder. Still, as a symptom, it has a link to various mental health issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsiveness, and depression. It’s common to experience anxiety during certain circumstances, such as at weddings, but it could signal an anxiety attack when these emotions become intense. If you struggle with frequent anxiety attacks, seek treatment from an anxiety treatment center at Atlanta Center for Mental Health.
Panic Attack vs. Anxiety Attack
Many people use these terms interchangeably, but they’re not the same, despite the similar characteristics. Typically, a panic attack is a sudden extreme fear without an apparent cause or real harm that leads to adverse physical reactions. On the other hand, an anxiety attack is an enhanced anxiousness.
If you experience any of these symptoms, seek the help of a dual diagnosis treatment center for various treatment services:
- Anxiety treatment program
- Depression treatment program
- Mental health disorder treatment
Contact Atlanta Center for Mental Health
Do you have the symptoms of a panic attack vs. anxiety attack? You’ll be glad to know that help in treating these mental illnesses is readily available. Atlanta Center for Mental Health can help you manage the symptoms and address root causes through an individual therapy program and other treatments. Our experienced and compassionate staff can answer any questions or begin the process of enrollment. Panic attacks and anxiety attacks have taken away too much control of your life, and it is time you or a loved one took it back. Contact Atlanta Center for Mental Health at 833.625.0458 to schedule an appointment today.
