Are Anxiety Attacks And Panic Attacks The Same?
People tend to think that anxiety attacks and panic attacks are the same thing. Very often we have seen people not knowing the difference between an anxiety attack and a panic attack.
However, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders states that anxiety attacks and panic attacks vary in some of their symptoms. The cause of the attacks and the severity also varies.
Firstly, anxiety is the feeling of tension and extreme worried thoughts.
Despite that, there are physical symptoms of anxiety too.
What can cause Anxiety Disorders?
A lot of factors can contribute to anxiety.
- Traumatic History / Personal History: Several factors like work stress, financial troubles or family equation can affect a person’s mental health. Some events like accidents, loss of a close person can cause trauma. This trauma can cause anxiety.
- Family History: It is commonly seen that children whose parents are suffering from anxiety are more prone to anxiety themselves.
- Personality : The level of handling stress and be reason behind anxiety.
- Medical Causes: Certain underlying medical conditions can lead to anxiety. In some cases, anxiety shows other medical conditions.
Is Anxiety Attack And Stress The Same?
No, anxiety is not the same as stress.
Firstly, stress is feeling emotionally and physically tensed. Various reasons can cause stress.
However, in people with anxiety, removing stress may still cause anxiety attacks.
A specific cause as a result can lead to stress.
What Are The Symptoms Of Anxiety?
Symptoms are different in different people. Symptoms mainly seen are:
- Feeling restless or nervous and tense
- Not being able to focus on your work
- Chest pain
- Feeling constantly of an impending doom or trouble
- Increased heart rate
- Trouble in sleeping
- Experiencing trouble in digestion and bowel movements.
Most importantly, the signs of anxiety is different for the cause of anxiety. Moreover, anxiety increases when the past event of trauma is around.
What Are The Complications And Prevention?
Anxiety can lead to serious complications.Therefore, it is important to diagnose and treat it early.
The complications that anxiety can develop are:
- Depression
- Alcohol or substance abuse
- Poor work quality
- Poor quality of life
- Health issues like digestive problems
- Suicidal tendencies
Therefore, to avoid the complications further actions can be taken:
- First of all, timely diagnosis can save critical conditions
- Then, making sure that the person is not doing substance abuse due to this problem.
- Lastly, getting proper medical help
However, It is important to tend to the person by their peers and family. It is necessary to create a loving and healthy environment.
What Are Panic Attacks?
Panic attacks are sudden onset of intense fear. This fear leads to physical disturbances even though there is no real danger.
Panic attacks are however, very dangerous. The person having a panic attack usually feel they are about to pass out and sometimes, even feel like they are dying.
Although when a stress factor is removed, the panic attack disappears.
However, if panic over the fact that another panic attack may occur persists for longer than a month, the condition is called panic disorder.
What Are The Symptoms Of Panic Attacks?
Firstly, Panic attacks are mainly related to mental state. Although, it is very common to see physical symptoms in panic attacks.
- Feeling of impending danger
- Fear of loss of control of death
- Hot flashes and chills
- Abdominal cramping
- Dizziness, nauseated feeling
- Feeling of detachment
Even though these symptoms generally occur, the fear of another attack increases panic in a patient.
What Are The Complications And Prevention Methods?
Panic is a state of being mentally affected. Therefore, it is common to develop complications like:
- Detachment from social life
- Financial problems as a result of lack of work efficiency
- Developing specific phobias
The prevention can be attained on a clinical and personal level:
- First of all, timely recognition and diagnosis
- The, seeking clinical help as well as personal help from peers and family
- Replacing daily stressful activity. Hence, indulging in other activities.
Lastly, it is important to look after our own mental health and look out for people we care for.
References:
Anxiety attacks-Anatomy,medical history and diagnosis
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