When most people talk about a panic attack, they use the words Anxiety and Panic interchangeably - however these terms represent two very different meanings in psychiatry. When you are going through these experiences, understanding the difference will determine the treatment options that are available to you in order to deal with, and cure yourself of, either of these disorders.

A Panic Attack

A panic attack is a very sudden and instant overwhelming sense of doom and fear that affects both your body and your mind at the same time. The feeling is so intense and so physical that you might think you\'re having a heart attack, losing your mind, or that you are going to die. It is hard to imagine otherwise, because the symptoms you are experiencing are so pronounced and severe - such as your heart racing, sweating and nausea, serious difficulty drawing enough breathe, and a constant shaking.

A Panic attack develops very quickly, and within five to ten minutes the symptoms have all reached a peak and will stay there for several minutes to an hour or two. The central focus of your mind during this experience is on the severity of your physical symptoms. Most people who have had a panic attack for the very first time will end up in the emergency room because the physical effects are so severe and dramatic.

An Anxiety Attack

An anxiety attack is less pronounced as a panic attack in terms of physical symptoms and the sudden onset of them. Usually in an anxiety attack, the focus of your mind will be on a situation or event that is severely troubling you. The feeling of anxiety surrounding those thoughts will gradually build. It is possible for the anxiety surrounding that worry and concern to reach such a high level that you start to experience some physical symptoms.

At the point when anxiety reaches a climax, the symptoms are very similar to a panic attack. You will feel shaky and your heart will race. Your chest will feel tight and it will be somewhat difficult to breathe. The duration of those symptoms can also be about the same as a panic attack. However the severity of the symptoms is nowhere near the level of a full blown panic attack - and the focus of your mind is primarily the situation or event in your life that is severely troubling you such as loss of a job, or a death in the family.

Suffering Two Attacks at Once

It is possible for an anxiety attack to continue to build to the point where the worry and anxiety causes the severity of the physical symptoms to reach a point where the focus of your mind switches from the trouble or crisis in your life to the severity and intensity of the physical symptoms. This concern can build upon itself and quickly turn into a full-blown panic attack with severe breathing problems, sweating, rapid heartbeat, and an intense feeling of impending death.

Treatment

Since these two forms of disorder are different, the treatment that is offered will also be different for each of them.

Treatment for a panic attacks will probably include a low-dose sedative in the emergency room. This will provide a short term relief from the physical symptoms. Long term treatment for panic attacks will usually include some form of antidepressants at low doses.

Treatment for anxiety attacks would most likely include a normal dose of antidepressants in order to relieve the lingering thought patterns that have lead to the anxiety disorder.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is usually preferred by psychologists to treat both panic attacks as well as anxiety attacks. However, even then the techniques of the treatment are going to vary for the two different forms of attack. For panic attacks, \"exposures\" are usually used, which simply means that you are taught to retrain your mind regarding the events and situations that cause panic by exposing yourself whenever you can to those events and situations. Over time, when the expected doom never occurs, the panic subsides and attacks end. For anxiety, psychologists will always typically use relaxation and thought restructuring - however these techniques used for anxiety will also cure both disorders over the long term.

It is important that you understand the disorder that you are experiencing, however regardless of which disorder that you are experiencing - the most important thing is to receive the proper treatment to remove these stresses from your life. Only after treatment will you be able to fully enjoy and appreciate life, without having to worry about if, or when, the next attack will occur.

Did you find this article on anxiety and panic attacks helpful? If yes, visit our site today to find out how to \r deal with panic attacks once \r and for all.

Anxiety Attack and Chest Pain
Because several of the symptoms of an anxiety attack (also called "panic attack") are similar to those of a heart attack, the former is often mistaken...

How to Help an Anxiety Panic Attack Child Disorder
My son George suffered from anxiety panic attacks at the most common age. Believe it or not children may suffer from anxiety panic attacks as early a...

Does The Linden Method Work?
The Linden Method is a perfect solution for your anxiety and panic attack. Whatever your personal level of anxiety and the cause, this method works we...

What Are Anxiety Panic Attack Symptoms And How To Stop Anxiety Panic Attack Symptoms Taking Over!
Anxiety panic attack symptoms are impacting on the quality of life of millions of people worldwide. This article will discuss the causes of anxiety pa...

Is There A Difference Between Panic And Anxiety Attacks?
There exists much confusion, even among experts, concerning the words panic and anxiety when it comes to what is commonly referred to as a "panic atta...

Discover The Best Ways Of Preventing Anxiety Panic Attack Symptoms
For anyone who has experienced anxiety panic attack symptoms, you know all too well just how awful it can be. You'll do just about anything to prevent...

Anxiety and Panic Attacks - Stop the Pain
I don't know many things that are worse than waking up in the middle of the night with a panic attack. They come and go but when you are suffering fro...

How To Recognise Anxiety Panic Attack Symptoms In Others
Lately your friend who has suffered from panic attacks as long as you can remember hasn't shown any of the anxiety panic attack symptoms. And seems to...

Anxiety Panic Attack Symptoms Do Not Have To Be The End Of The World
Have you ever found yourself where you unexpectedly found it difficult to breath? You may begin to sweat and shake uncontrollably. Your pulse rate is...

Panic Attack Anxiety Symptom - Watch Out For These
In this article you will learn to identify the symptoms that people with anxiety and panic attack have. You will also learn how anxiety and panic atta...

Anxiety Panic Attack Symptoms - Medication or Natural Methods?
After experiencing awful anxiety panic attack symptoms many, many people are searching for a way to cope with (and preferably cure) these attacks. Kn...

Anxiety & Panic Attack Drugs
This article will explain some different drug classes in the anxiety & panic attack field that has helped thousands of other anxiety & panic attack su...

Why Anxiety Panic Attack Symptoms Should Be Dealt With Naturally
After going through the nightmare of anxiety panic attack symptoms, those that experience them are desperate to find help, any form of help, for the e...

Anxiety Symptoms - Panic Attacks
There are common anxiety symptoms that happen for everyone. But the symptoms of an anxiety attack feel very intense and frightening. Experiencing a pa...

Anxiety and Panic Attacks Symptoms - Know Your Enemy
I can remember clearly my first panic attack. I was sitting alone, working as I usually am, and suddenly all kinds of things started to go wrong with ...

Signs Of Anxiety | RSS 2.0 | Closed.