Intense Bouts of Anxiety: Recognizing Signs, Understanding Origins, and Possible Consequences
Anxiety and panic attacks are common experiences that can significantly impact a person's quality of life. While they share some similarities, there are key differences between the two.
Anxiety attacks, also known as acute episodes of anxiety, involve symptoms such as faster breathing, nausea, dizziness, headaches, and a churning feeling in the stomach. These symptoms typically build up over time in response to prolonged worry or stress. Anxiety attacks can be triggered by specific stressors or anxiety-inducing situations, such as exams or workplace issues, and can develop gradually.
On the other hand, panic attacks are sudden and intense episodes of fear, often occurring without warning. Symptoms of a panic attack can include feelings of terror, a racing heart, lightheadedness, nausea, sweating, and chest pain. Unlike anxiety attacks, panic attacks often occur without any clear external trigger.
The differences between anxiety attacks and panic attacks lie primarily in their onset, severity, triggers, symptoms, and duration. Anxiety attacks develop gradually over time, while panic attacks come on suddenly and intensely. Anxiety attacks are generally less severe, with symptoms building up with stress, whereas panic attacks are more overwhelming, causing feelings of intense terror.
Anxiety attacks usually have identifiable triggers, such as stressful events or situations, whereas panic attacks may come unexpectedly without any apparent cause. The physical symptoms of anxiety attacks are less intense, while those of panic attacks can be severe, including racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, feelings of impending doom, and fear of losing control or dying.
If a person is feeling overwhelmed by stress or anxiety, it is important to seek help from a health professional. Treatment options for anxiety and related problems include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), medications, and support groups for people with specific conditions.
It is essential to remember that anxiety and panic attacks are not uncommon and help is available. If you or someone you know is considering suicide or self-harm, resources such as the 988 Lifeline, Crisis Text Line, and local emergency services are available.
Anxiety can be caused by various factors, including work or school pressure, financial pressure, family or relationship problems, divorce, separation, or bereavement, concerns about parenthood or being a caregiver, worries about the environment or climate change, changing life situations, reduced mobility or physical function, loss of mental function, having a diagnosis of a chronic health condition, phobia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), genetic factors, major stress or susceptibility to stress, a history of drug or alcohol abuse, excessive caffeine use, and the use of some medications.
In summary, panic attacks are sudden, intense bursts of overwhelming fear with severe physical symptoms and often no clear trigger, while anxiety attacks build gradually in response to stress with less intense symptoms and clear triggers. The duration is usually shorter for panic attacks but their impact is more intense. Anxiety attacks are generally linked to ongoing stress, whereas panic attacks can occur in someone with panic disorder or unexpectedly.
[1] American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing. [2] National Institute of Mental Health. (2020). Anxiety disorders. Retrieved from
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