Anxiety Vs Panic attack

[UkyoCoanccy]

Hi!

I know that most of you have much more experience about how you feel in an anxiety attack or panic attack.

I am some kind of confused about the difference between them. Can you please explain me the difference.

I have read the difference in google but it is confusing to notice the difference.

When I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression it was because suddenly I started to suffer of some anxiety attacks. The first one that I had I was screaming without control. I could not stop it. It just happen. I was scared that something bad happen to me because my extremities got numbed, my fingers started to bend and I had no control on them. I could not breathe because I was agitated for no reason and I felt very dizzy. The paramedics came but I do not remember what they told me. They examined me and told me that nothing bad were going to happen to me and tried to make me to relax. I was shaking a lot.

My therapist told me it was panic attack, another told me that it was an anxiety attack. Either way my psychiatrist gave me venlafaxine for those attacks.

So now I wonder if what I experience was a anxiety or panic attack.

Can some of you explain me please.

[Starrlight]

As far as I know they are the same; just different words to describe the same.

[Hidden]

A panic attack is the end result of anxiety overload.They seem to have a mind of their own, and often come out of the blue ...even when you are not feeling particulary anxious.They can come during periods of extreme stress and the fear of having another one ...fuels another one.I like to see them as the pressure valve on a steam kettle....you feel you have no control, but in reality you do.Learn to float past these feelings and let them do their bit, they will lessen once you stop trying to stop them.Your symptoms were the classic hyperventilation syndrome.You over breath because you feel you cant get enough air, then you blow off carbon dioxide and feel your hands curl in and your pulse pounding.Re breathing air out of a paper bag will quickly restore the blood gases to near normal.learn diaphrammatic breathing that is slow deep breaths....empty your lungs slowly and allow them to fill slowly....this breathing technique will prevent that classic shallow breathing many anxious people employ.

Start regular relaxation exercises so you can recognise when you are getting overly tense.

You may feel like its the end of the world , but its just feelings, that you can regain control of.Please research Dr Claire Weekes who wrote a book called "Self help for your nerves" (amazon /ebay) It explains pain attacks and the various symptoms anxious people develop, and how to deal with them.Best wishes you find some hope and reassurance here.

[Lady-Cassey]

I think, to know the difference is how the situation started. From my experience, usually anxiety doesn't affect me the same way as a panic attack. However, you seem to have had something extremely serious, to me. But I am not a medical physician. For me, I usually experience anxiety then I could end up having a panic attack. My anxiety is worrying and pacing and racing thoughts of what I can or cannot do to fix a problem. If it becomes worse, It will bring on a panic attack and I have chest pains, hard to breath, and sometimes it feels like I'm going to have a heart attack if it is a really bad one. For my anxiety, I have learned to pay attention to the signs of when it is becoming present/on. When I notice the signs to stop and relax. To relax, I sit down if I need to. Next, I would breath slower. Which will take time. Practice paying attention to my breathing. That puts my mind on my breathing instead of what it was on. Sometimes I will look at other things and focus on them, and take my mind off of whatever it was on at the same time I am slowing down my breathing. If you do this before you actually have an anxiety attack, chances are you won't have one or a panic attack. You will be relaxed. This takes practice if you have not done this before. You also have to pay attention to how you are feeling about something and know how you are feeling. Then, sometime later you can think on how to address your problem. Most problems don't have to be taken care of right away. You can talk to a medical doctor or counselor and they can explain or teach you how. That is how I learned. You may also ask them about baby steps. They help too. I hope I have helped you. Please take care.🙂