Difference Between A Panic Attack And An Anxiety Attack

Panic attack and anxiety attack is often used interchangeably and some people think that these terms mean the same thing. Depending on how you will view it, the difference can be considered to purely semantics but in a clinical point of view, anxiety and panic attack are two different conditions with varying characteristics could my diet help my SAD and features. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders by the American Psychiatric Association or DSM – IV – TR provides distinctive panic attack symptoms and uses the expression panic attack when describing the distinctive features usually associated with panic disorder which is why there are different panic attack symptoms compared to the symptoms associated with anxiety attack.

Defining An Anxiety Attack

The term anxiety attack on the other hand is not defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders by the American Psychiatric Association. But instead, this term is used to characterize a feature of various illnesses categorized as Anxiety Disorder.

Several disorders that are also included in this category are:

•    Panic Disorder
•    Specific Phobia
•    Social Phobia
•    Agoraphobia even without the history of a panic disorder
•    Obsessive – Compulsive Behavior
•    PSTD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
•    GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder)

So in essence, the variation between panic attack symptoms and anxiety attack are well described with regards to the level of intensity of the symptoms as well as the period of time wherein the predominant panic attack symptoms occurred.

Panic Attack Symptoms And Panic Attack Medication

During the onset of a panic attack prior to taking a natural antidepressant medication, the symptoms that manifest are extremely intense and without any warning at all. These symptoms can happen without any warning and reach the peak within nine to ten minutes before subsiding. But on the other hand, some of the attacks can last longer or may happen in quick succession making it a whole lot difficult in determining when the panic attack stops and when another one will begin.

Without panic attack medication like uv light therapy, natural antidepressant pills or supplements, panic disorder can be characterized by symptoms such as accelerated heart rate, intense sweating even when cold, shaking, having the feeling of being smothered and shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, dizziness, and the feelings of unreality among many others.
Anxiety attack on the other hand usually steps up over a period of time and it is also significantly associated to symptoms such as excessive worry. The symptoms for anxiety attack may be the same with that of panic attacks but it may also include having a disturbed sleep, muscle tension, struggling to concentrate, over fatigue, irritability, and shortness of breath, restlessness, dizziness, and an increase in startle response. Based on the panic attack information, some of these symptoms may be similar to the symptoms correlated with panic attack but these are not as intense as panic attacks do and can easily be solved with a natural antidepressant medication. Another major difference is that in contrary with panic attacks, the definitive symptoms of anxiety can also be persistent and recurring and these can last for several days, weeks, and even months.