NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    More
    In the news
    Health & Wellness
    Beauty
    Travel And Tourism
    Food
    Fitness and Health
    NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    NewsBytes
    User Placeholder

    Hi,

    Logout


    India Business World Politics Sports Technology Entertainment Auto Lifestyle Inspirational Career Bengaluru Delhi Mumbai Visual Stories Find Cricket Statistics Phones Reviews Fitness Bands Reviews Speakers Reviews

    Download Android App

    Follow us on
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
     
    Home / News / Lifestyle News / Panic attack vs anxiety attack: Let's understand the difference
    Lifestyle

    Panic attack vs anxiety attack: Let's understand the difference

    Panic attack vs anxiety attack: Let's understand the difference
    Written by Anujj Trehaan
    Expert opinion by Dr Akanksha Saxena
    Nov 14, 2022, 04:57 pm 3 min read
    Panic attack vs anxiety attack: Let's understand the difference
    From meaning to correlation, let's understand panic attacks and anxiety attacks

    Both, panic attack and anxiety, are a state of uneasiness that put one's body in a flight-or-fight mode. They are sudden and often intense psychological responses to a situation that is deemed threatening. However, although they have pretty much the same symptoms, a panic attack differs from an anxiety attack in many ways. Let's understand the difference between the two mental health conditions.

    Here's what our expert says

    • A panic attack is a physiological reaction of the mind and body where one's rate of breathing, and pulse rate increase, along with sudden sweating, nausea, dizziness, and dry mouth.
    • The person suffering appears to be in severe distress.
    • Anxiety is a psychological response to stressors, it usually doesn't manifest as physical symptoms and can be felt by the patient while others are unaware.

    Panic attacks are sudden, anxiety builds up gradually

    Panic attacks show up suddenly and are quite intense with an overwhelming burst of emotions. They can be both expected and unexpected, making it a condition that can happen to anyone, anytime. On the other hand, an anxiety attack builds over time and generally happens once a fear or stress about something is established and aggravated. It can be mild, moderate, or severe.

    Panic attacks usually aren't about triggers whereas anxiety is

    Panic attacks don't always occur due to a trigger or a stressful situation. They can show up unexpectedly, may occur out of the blue, and their physical symptoms are stronger. Whereas, anxiety attacks are largely based on triggers and speed up gradually once the person is caught up in them. People with this condition are recommended to avoid their triggers as much as possible.

    Here are some of the most common triggers

    Panic attacks and anxiety attacks may prolong due to a stressful job, caffeine intake, accidents, social gatherings, chronic illnesses, traumatic experiences, fears and phobias, medication, guilt, gastric situations or skipping meals, conflicts or fights, separation from or loss of a loved one, etc.

    Panic attacks subside quickly, anxiety stays for prolonged periods

    While panic attacks and anxiety share a certain set of symptoms that are the same, there are some that differ. A panic attack is sudden, with symptoms like a feeling of disconnection, loss of control, chest pain, and shaking. Its symptoms generally last only a few minutes. Anxiety induces more muscle tension, irritability, and disturbed sleep. Symptoms may last for weeks in worse cases.

    Different people feel different body sensations

    Although there are some common symptoms that one may feel during anxiety or panic attacks, their intensity and nature may differ. Some common symptoms include shortness of breath, racing heart, chills, trembling, choking, numbness, chest pain, fear of dying, fainting, headache, nausea, sweating, and fatigue.

    Anxiety may lead to sudden panic attacks with similar symptoms

    People with anxiety issues may get panic attacks, resulting in a burst of all the symptoms that the latter is known for. For instance, someone who gets anxious about enclosed spaces may deal with a sudden and sharp panic attack when inside an elevator. Just like panic about stressful situations leads to panic attacks, so can anxiety if not dealt with in time.

    Share this timeline
    Facebook
    Whatsapp
    Twitter
    Linkedin
    Latest
    Mental Health

    Latest

    India vs Australia: Josh Hazlewood set to miss first Test  Josh Hazlewood
    Vinod Kambli arrested for hitting wife under alcohol influence: Details  Indian Cricket Team
    Prior to its debut, Volkswagen Touareg spied doing test runs Volkswagen
    Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf passes away aged 79 Pervez Musharraf

    Mental Health

    Cost-of-living crisis: Stressed? These 5 tips may help Personal Finance
    Besides being 'pawsome,' pets can fix your physical, mental health Pets
    5 mental health myths you should stop believing right away Lifestyle
    Is it okay to be selfish? Sometimes, yes Lifestyle

    Love Lifestyle News?

    Subscribe to stay updated.

    Lifestyle Thumbnail
    Indian Premier League (IPL) Celebrity Hollywood Bollywood UEFA Champions League Tennis Football Smartphones Cryptocurrency Upcoming Movies Premier League Cricket News Latest automobiles Latest Cars Upcoming Cars Latest Bikes Upcoming Tablets
    About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive Download DevBytes Find Cricket Statistics
    Follow us on
    Facebook Twitter Linkedin
    All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2023