Panic Attacks and Anxiety Attacks

Discerning the Difference between Panic Attacks and Anxiety Attacks

In many laymen's discussions, the terms panic attacks and anxiety attacks are often used interchangeably. It may be due to matters of ignorance or semantics or both but the clinical perspective treats the two terms very differently.

Inclusion in the DSM-IV-TR

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) is the common reference and standard criteria used in the United States for the classification of mental disorders. It is published by the American Psychiatric Association, with its European counterpart being the CD-10 Chapter V: Mental and Behavioral Disorders produced by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The DSM-IV-TR refers to panic attacks as the hallmark features of panic disorders, which is in and of itself a mental disorder. However, nowhere is the term "anxiety attacks" defined in the same manual.

Instead, the tern anxiety is used in the description of a core feature of several mental disorders classified under the headline "Anxiety Disorders". In turn, these disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, post traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, a goraphobia, and other specific phobias.

Intensity and Length of Time Symptoms Occur

Panic attacks and anxiety attacks are also differentiated by the length of time that the attacks occur before, during and after as well as the intensity of the symptoms as the attacks happen. A psychiatrist is in the best position to determine which is which in a particular individual.

On one hand, the symptoms of a panic attack are extremely intense and very sudden so much so that the term "out of the blue" is often used to describe its onset. But just as the panic attack happens suddenly, it can also subside shortly. Many individuals report symptoms peaking in and out in 10 minutes although panic attacks can come in quick succession, thus, making it difficult to determine when each one ends and the other begins.

Also, panic attacks have more intense symptoms that anxiety attacks. These symptoms include palpitations, pounding heart, trembling, and sensations of shortness of breath, feelings of choking, chest pain, nausea and dizziness for the physical part as well as feelings of unreality, loss of control and detachment and fears of dying for the mental part.

Symptoms of an Anxiety Attack tend to be less intense

On the other hand, the symptoms of an anxiety attack usually intensifies over a period of time but are generally less intense than those experienced for panic attacks. However, the symptoms can persist for days, weeks and even months. Plus, said signs are also highly associated with excessive worry, which is unlike panic attacks where even the most peaceful surroundings can bring on the symptoms.

When in an anxiety attack, the symptoms are often similar to those above mentioned for panic attacks. Additional symptoms like muscle tension, disturbed sleep, difficulty in concentrating, unexplained fatigue, restlessness and irritability are also experienced over a period of time by individuals suffering from an anxiety attack.

No matter which of the two - panic attacks and anxiety attacks - you suffer from, you must take comfort in the fact that both can be treated. You should ask your doctor, or better yet a psychiatrist, about the possible treatment options that can include behavioral therapy, hypnosis, medications and natural methods.

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