The #1 thing I hear from clients is….
“I had a panic attack!”
But…was it really a panic attack?
Most people don’t know that there is a difference between ‘panic’ and ‘anxiety’. And some people have anxiety and also panic attacks. Both can be really difficult to manage without support, but they aren’t interchangeable and may require different help.
So, here’s the lowdown!
- Anxiety is an overall feeling of worry, discomfort and stress.
- It can last for weeks, months or years.
- It can be mild—you can live your life with not too many issues. Or, it can be severe, making it difficult to be motivated to go to school or work, or to accomplish daily tasks.
- Anxiety may be triggered by something specific but can also just happen to someone who has a gene for anxiety.
- I often diagnose anxiety in late elementary or middle school. Adults that I diagnose almost always report having had these feelings for many years before seeking help, unless they have a new life stressor.
When someone struggles with anxiety, there can be times that it gets worse—like before a big test, work presentation or life change. This spike in anxiety can be debilitating, but it is not a panic attack! It is an increase in feelings of anxiety, due to a life stressor. Many people describe this as a panic attack…it isn’t!
- A panic attack comes on very suddenly and with great emotional force, sometimes without any clear reason.
- A panic attack can cause your heart to beat very fast or cause chest pain; it can make you want to throw up and can cause you to sweat. Some people tell me that their fingers tingle or get numb, that they can’t think, move or help themselves.
- In fact, in some cases, a panic attack can be hard to differentiate from a heart attack when a person first presents for medical attention. If you are unsure, and haven’t been diagnosed with panic attacks, don’t assume it is panic. Seek medical attention to rule out a heart attack (or any other medical issue).
- Once you have been diagnosed with panic attacks, and understand your panic symptoms, you won’t need to seek medical treatment each time because you will recognize your symptoms as panic.
The bottom line: Both anxiety and panic attacks may get worse without intervention. Learning coping skills and life changes for managing either panic or anxiety can be very beneficial to your quality of life, so don’t be afraid to reach out to a therapist for help if you think you might need it!