You are sitting in a restaurant with your friends, having a very heart-to-heart conversation. Someone cracks a joke that makes you laugh your heart out. All of a sudden you feel like your heart is racing, your hands and feet start getting cold as ice and you feel boiling water coming out of your ears.
Intense fear grips you, you feel this urge to just leave and escape the situation, you get up and reach for the door without excusing. Well, yes! It was a panic attack that you just encountered.
As there were similar symptoms felt but with no anxiety involved, in the situation, it gives people a false alarm that they might be having an anxiety attack. However, there is a huge difference between a panic attack vs. anxiety attack.
We as human beings are vulnerable creatures and we all experience stress, anxiety, and all sorts of emotional attacks. Job stress, financial worries, and relationship problems are quite common and can trigger stress and cause anxiety. But, sometimes these little life events can trigger anxiety attacks and panic attacks.
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Anxiety – The Not So Needed Companion
Our minds do not have an “off button” to stop the thoughts or the buildup of unneeded information. It doesn’t have the ability to stop the sudden rush of thoughts and this contributes a lot to causing anxiety and panic.
A little bit of stress and anxiety is healthy, as it guides human beings when to freeze, flight, or mobilize the body in certain situations. Without the presence of anxiety, it is not possible for us humans to avoid threats that are damaging to our well-being. However, when this anxiety elevates emotional attacks. Let’s resolve this debate of panic attack vs. anxiety attack.
What is an Anxiety Attack?
Anxiety attacks occur when there is anxiety built up due to a particular reason. It is followed by a period of excessive distress. There could be fears of events that still have to occur in the future, real and perceived threats, and remembrance of the past. These sometimes occur without any specific cause also.
What Does an Anxiety Attack Feel Like?
In this debate between panic attack vs. anxiety attack, anxiety attacks can be a lot more than just feeling butterflies in your stomach. Although it is not a medical condition but is caused due to recurring anxiety.
A person having a panic attack feels overwhelming fear, a feeling to run away or escape, irritability for no reason, a strong feeling of the mind going blank, and extreme worry and stress about the future.
It should be noted that one of the symptoms of an anxiety attack is confused with a heart attack. Pressure or pain felt in the chest can confuse you or put you in doubt as to if you are getting a heart attack. Although it is just your mind telling you stories.
What Does a Panic Attack feel like?
Unlike anxiety attacks, panic attacks come with clear triggers and causes. Panic attacks occur all of a sudden and are completely unexpected. These can last for a few minutes.
While comparing a panic attack vs. anxiety attack, people who suffer from panic attacks feel chest pain as if they are getting a heart attack, hot flashes and chills are felt as if an individual is taking a hot and cold bath at the same time.
Others say that they feel stomach cramps and stomach discomfort. Some say that having a panic attack makes them feel like they are being choked and feel suffocated.
There is a certain kind of ‘detachment from reality felt while having a panic attack.
If seen more closely, there are certain types of panic attacks that are informed or occur due to external stressors such as phobias.
How to Do While Having a Panic or an Anxiety Attack?
The dispute of panic attack vs. anxiety attack can be resolved by using some strategies that can help you deal with these emotional attacks. These can be:
Breath deep
The most alarming symptom while having a panic or anxiety attack is the feeling of not being able to breathe. In order to control your breathing, you need to focus on your inhaling and exhaling part of the breathing.
Try to breathe slowly and steadily until the symptoms wear out. Count till 4 during inhalation and exhalation.
Acknowledge it
Now that it is known, ‘how does an anxiety feel like’ or ‘how does a panic attack feel like’ the symptoms can be managed well by acknowledging first if you are having any one of the emotional attacks.
Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is the practice of staying in the moment. It can be very beneficial in dealing with anxiety. This can be useful, especially for people who worry too much and are unable to control their racing thoughts. This can be done in a very easy way. A 5-4-3-2-1 method is used in which you should complete the following steps slowly and gradually.
- Look at 5 different objects
- Listen to 4 sounds distinct from each other
- Touch 3 objects and feel their temperature, texture and think of their uses.
- Identity and differentiate 2 smells or scents
- Think of 1 thing that you can taste and notice the taste
Relaxation Methods
In order to reduce the feeling of panic attacks and anxiety attacks, it is important to try out relaxation methods like progressive muscle relaxation and guided imagery.
Wrapping it Up!
A very common argument panic attack vs. anxiety attack is often discussed among people. There are very slight differences between the two, but these can be managed well by using a number of techniques. In case of an anxiety attack or panic attack, the only thing to remember is that “you are not alone.”
Make sure that you talk it out and share it with the people you trust because let me tell you, it’s all in your head, and it’s your mind playing games with you. It can be cured and managed well, so never give up.
In case of any emergency, make sure that you visit a psychologist by visiting Healthwire.pk or dialing (042) 32500989.
