Panic Attack vs Anxiety Attack: These can be very confusing and not everyone knows what first aid might be in such situations. Let’s find out what the experts have to say.
Anxiety, stress, sadness, depression – all of these words are often used interchangeably, and they don’t all mean the same thing. Mental health is a sensitive but broad topic that still needs more awareness around it. Panic, stress and anxiety are some terms with which many are related. But, these are different and have different effects on different people. In this fast-paced rush, the stressed-out culture seems to be the new normal. It can often lead to the development of anxiety and other mental health problems. In severe cases, people also suffer from panic or anxiety attacks. But, these are not the same. They have overlapping symptoms but are different.
So how do we understand this nuanced difference between panic and anxiety attack? Dr Aparna Ramakrishnan, Consultant Psychiatry, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital Mumbai, shared about these differences and how we can manage them.
Key differences between panic attacks and anxiety
PANIC ATTACK:
- Gravity: Symptoms are severe. Often physical symptoms. The person feels that they are going crazy, losing control or going to die. He has a feeling of imminent death.
- Beginning: It often comes out of nowhere, without warning or shoots suddenly. disruptive, intense
- Duration: Symptoms usually peak at around 10 minutes and then quickly subside.
More symptoms are present during a panic attack:
- palpitations
- the beating heart
- excessive sweating
- Shaking
- Feeling short of breath, shortness of breath
- hyperventilation
- Choking sensation
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Nausea or abdominal discomfort
- feeling dizzy
- unsteadiness or dizziness
- Feeling of unreality/detachment from self
- Fear of losing control/going crazy/dying
- Numbness or tingling sensation
- Chills or hot flashes
ANXIETY ATTACK
- Gravity: Variable severity of symptoms: mild to severe
- Beginning: Gradual progression of symptoms over a period of minutes, hours, or even days or months. Stress reaches overwhelming levels and feels like an attack
- Duration: The symptoms can persist for a very long period of time.
Other symptoms:
- Muscle tension
- poor concentration
- sleeping difficulties
- Fatigue
- Concern
- concern
- hypervigilance
- Irritability
- Incrise of cardiac frecuency
- Difficulty breathing
- Dizziness
panic attack vs. anxiety: how to deal with it?
Imagine, someone is hanging out with a friend, perhaps trying to comfort them in a time of need or whatever, and that person has a panic attack. How do we address that situation? What first aid can we do on our part because it is not a wound or bruise on the skin where applying antiseptic would work.
Therefore, it is important to understand this difference between the two and act accordingly. According to Dr. Aparna Ramakrishnan, here are some things we can do to help a person having a panic attack:
- Keep calm: Don’t be overwhelmed by the person’s symptoms. Being calm will help the panicked person know that everything is going to be okay and that they can calm down.
- Name it: “This is a panic attack. It will happen. I am with you” Stay with the person and help them out of it. Assure them that it will not go away and that the symptoms will gradually pass. Most panic attacks subside in 20 to 30 minutes.
- Invite them to sit in a comfortable and quiet place, give them space, a glass of water.
- deep breathing model, breathing box, mindfulness and grounding techniques for the individual and do these calming techniques with them. Use 1 technique at a time. Focus on breathing slowly. Distract them with external stimuli
- Engage in light, slow conversation: Inquire about the trigger, the stressor (if any) so that you can objectively see the situation of the individual in panic.
- Offers coping statements like “You can handle this” OR “This shall pass.” Offer support and comfort to the person.
- Encourage them to seek help from a mental health professional for symptoms.
Dr. Ramakrishnan further added that one should refrain from statements like: “It’s not that bad” OR “You’re overreacting” OR “You just want attention” OR “You don’t have anything”. Seeking professional advice is paramount.
Mental health matters and we must understand that it is okay to not be okay.
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