When anxiety is encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained. - said Arthur Somers Roche.
One of the most related quotes about panic attacks. Do you ever feel it? You must. Everybody does. You are prepared fully with your interview or presentation. But when you are going to start that, some kind of butterfly tickles in your stomach, and your heartbeat gets faster, and you get over nervous.
This is very normal. But when you live a life with an anxiety disorder for most of the time, it becomes too tough to deal with.
An evaluated 31.1% of U.S. citizens experience any kind of anxiety disorder at some time in their lives.
In this article, we will know about the relationship between a panic attack and an anxiety attack, the reasons, and some home remedies to control these attacks.
Panic Attack And Anxiety Attack
Many people assume that panic attacks and anxiety attacks are the same things. But they are not. An anxiety attack leans to occur in reaction to certain stressors and may build gradually. On the other side, panic attacks can occur suddenly and abruptly. Both indicate an underlying health condition.
An Anxiety Attack
Anxiety is usually related to a stressful situation, work, experience, or event. It comes on gradually. It involves a certain fear of some specific occurrence or problem that could happen.
An anxiety wave is more like a tidal wave. It can develop momentum, growing bigger and bigger until it eventually reaches a height.
Anxiety is an element of several psychiatric disorders.
These are:
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder or feeling of having a symptom of panicking.
- Separation anxiety disorder
- Agoraphobia without a history of panic disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Social anxiety disorder or sociophobia
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Specific phobia
- Silent anxiety attack
Symptoms of anxiety
'I was Panicked.' when people say that, it is usually a combination of these anxiety symptoms:
- Worry
- Distress
- Fear
Every person's anxiety attack is different. A person is having an anxiety attack with certain symptoms that don't match another person's symptoms.
So it is quite tough to describe anxiety symptoms in general. But the most common reason for anxiety is overthinking and fear.
Panic Attack
It is not like an anxiety attack that grows gradually. It comes on suddenly and involves intense and often unexplained fear. In this period of attack your brain is not getting enough blood flow.
They appear as very demanding physical symptoms, like
- A running heartbeat,
- Feel Light headed
- Shortness of breath,
- Nausea.
- Low blood pressure or orthostatic hypotension
Panic attacks can be categorized as
- Unexpected
- Expected.
Unexpected panic attacks occur without any noticeable cause.
Expected panic attacks have occurred from external factors like phobias, certain irritating situations, or fear.
Panic attacks can be normal and can happen to anyone. But having more than one or happening in a regular interval may be a sign of panic disorder and need medical attention.
Similar Symptoms Of Panic Attack And Anxiety Attack
Yes, some other symptoms are similar to both people with panic attacks and anxiety attacks.
You can experience both anxiety and panic attacks at the same time.
For example, you might encounter sudden anxiety while stressing about a potentially engaging situation, like an important presentation or a speech at work. When the situation arrives, anxiety may turn into a panic attack.
Both panic and anxiety attacks carry some identical symptoms. Both physical sensations and emotional triggers.
- Nervousness and worry
- Distress
- Tunnel vision
- Dizziness
- Fear of dying
- Losing control or someone
- A sense of partition from the world or the fear of isolation.
- Heart palpitations
- An accelerated heart rate
- Chest pain - might be mild
- Shortness of breath or shallow breathing
- Feeling faint during a panic attack
- Tightness in the throat
- Feeling of choking
- Dry mouth
- Sweating
- Shaking hands or trembling
- Chills or hot flashes
- Numbness or tingling
- Nausea,
- Lose consciousness - occasional.
- Abdominal pain,
- Upset stomach- suddenly
- Quick headache
- Feel dizzy
Causes Of Panic Attack And Anxiety Attack
Though there is no specific reason for unexpected panic attacks, there are some causes that are responsible for both expected Panic Attack And Anxiety Attacks.
- A stressful job
- Driving
- Social situations
- Phobias,
- Memories of traumatic experiences
- Chronic illnesses, like heart disease, diabetes, or asthma
- Chronic pain
- Addiction to drugs or alcohol
- Caffeine
- Specific medication and supplements
- Thyroid problems
Basic Risk factors for panic and anxiety
Anxiety and panic have similar risk factors and sometimes they can be dangerous too. These risk factors are:
- A traumatic event in life, from childhood or even in adulthood.
- Stressful events - death or losing someone for good.
- Increased sensitivity - may be after pregnancy for a new mother.
- Intense anxiety - occurs from overthinking
- Overstressing workload and responsibilities.
- Financial loss, family conflict.
- Chronic disease - like blood pressure issues, heart problems.
- Having an anxious personality
- Depression
- Family history of anxiety disorders or panic disorders
- Using drugs or excessive consumption of alcohol
People with anxiety disorders are at a high risk of experiencing panic attacks. But having anxiety does not necessarily mean you will have to have experienced a panic attack.
Vasovagal Syncope And Anxiety
Both are different. But have some similarities. That's why most people feel that vasovagal syncope and anxiety, especially fainting during a panic situation, are the same.
In Vasovagal syncope, the body's ability to regulate blood pressure doesn't work correctly, causing you to pass out. In reflex syncope, vasovagal syncope happens automatically due to unknown causes.
Fainting at the glance of blood is also a common cause of vasovagal syncope. Stress, anxiety, or emotional upset can cause a person to pass out from vasovagal syncope.
Treatment Of Panic Attacks And Anxiety Attacks
To start the treatment, a doctor may conduct these diagnose;
- Blood tests
- Heart test, like an ECG
- Psychological evaluation or questionnaire
- A group session with the patient
The most common treatment for anxiety and panic disorder is Counseling and psychotherapy.
CBT - Cognitive behavioral therapy
A counselor will develop strategies for managing triggers when they arise.
Cognitive therapy
This therapy is extremely common and can help you identify, reframe, and balance the useless thoughts that often are reasons for an anxiety disorder.
Relaxation techniques
These include a range of exercises:
- Breathing exercises,
- Guided imagery,
- Progressive relaxation,
- Meditation
A doctor will suggest taking these all together or in a single session.
Home remedies to Treat Panic Attacks
Try to follow the following remedies at home to combat panic attacks.
Take deep breaths slowly
Practice breathing exercises. Focus your attention on exhaling and inhaling while you feel faint or heavy breathing.
Chant Affirmation
If you have already experienced panic or anxiety, recite the affirmation on your own that 'everything is okay. It will pass.'
Practice Mindfulness
Without reacting, Practice mindfulness by actively observing thoughts and sensations.
Use relaxation techniques
If you're experiencing anxiety or a panic attack, try to close your eyes, take a bath, or use lavender.
Finally
Panic attacks and anxiety can be controlled. We just have to learn how. Change the lifestyle that can put you in real danger. Avoid alcohol and smoking. Don't just overthink any issue. The things you can't control, let them go away. Leave it to the time.
Start a day with fresh oxygen and avoid consuming carbon dioxide. Try to live a healthy life close to nature.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question 1: Can you pass out from a panic attack?
Answer 1: Passing out during a panic attack is occasional. However, the feeling of passing out is very common.
Most people having a panic attack will experience extreme and intense anxiety that they feel they will pass out.
Question 2 - Can you die from an anxiety attack?
Answer 2: Panic attacks or anxiety attacks can be felt like a heart attack or chest pain. But it will not cause them to die. The serious feeling of panic and anxiety need to be treated soon.
Question 3 - How long does anxiety last?
Answer 3 - there is no specific answer for this. Most people have it for months or even years. On the other hand, some people can have it lifelong.
Question 4 - Anxiety attack vs. Heart attack.
Answer 4: To understand whether it is a heart attack or an anxiety attack, try to locate the chest pain. In a heart attack, the pain will move to the arm, neck, shoulder, and jaw.
But in an anxiety attack, the pain will be in the chest only.