Anxiety or panic attack: see how to differentiate

For many, panic attacks and anxiety attacks may seem almost the same thing, however there are several differences between them, from their causes to their intensity and frequency.

Therefore, it is important to know how to differentiate them to define the best course of action to follow, help the doctor to make a faster diagnosis and seek the most appropriate type of treatment. The differences between anxiety and panic attacks can vary in terms of intensity, duration, causes and presence or absence of agoraphobia:

Below we better describe the main characteristics of each of these disorders, so that it is easier to understand each of them.

What is anxiety

Anxiety is characterized by excessive worry that is persistent and difficult to control. This concern is present in the person’s daily life, for at least 6 months or more, and is accompanied by physical and psychological symptoms, such as:

• Tremors;
• Insomnia;
• Restlessness;
• Headache;
• Shortness of breathe;
• Fatigue;
• Excessive sweat;
• Palpitations;
• Gastrointestinal problems;
• Difficulty relaxing;
• Muscle aches;
• Irritability;
• Ease of changing mood.

It can also often be confused with the symptoms of depression, but unlike depression, anxiety is mainly focused on excessive worry about future events.

Find out more details about the symptoms of anxiety.

How to confirm if it is anxiety

To try to understand whether it really is an anxiety disorder, it is important to seek out a psychologist or psychiatrist who, after evaluating the symptoms and some life events, will be able to confirm a possible diagnosis and better determine the treatment to be followed.

Generally, the diagnosis is confirmed when there has been excessive worry for at least 6 months, along with the presence of symptoms such as restlessness, feeling of being on edge, tiredness, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension and sleep disorders.

How to treat anxiety

To treat anxiety disorder, it is advisable to visit a psychologist for therapy sessions, as this will help the person to better deal with some everyday situations, such as controlling pessimism, increasing tolerance and strengthening self-confidence, for example. . If necessary, along with therapy sessions, the doctor may also recommend treatment with medication, which should always be guided by a psychiatrist.

Other approaches, such as relaxation techniques, regular physical exercise, guidance and counseling, are also important to help with treatment. See which treatment options are most used to treat anxiety.

What is Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is considered when a person has recurrent panic attacks, which are sudden and intense episodes of fear that lead to a series of physical reactions that begin abruptly, which include:

• Palpitations, heart beating strong or racing;
• Excessive sweating;
• Tremor;
• Feeling of shortness of breath or shortness of breath;
• Feeling of fainting;
• Nausea or abdominal discomfort;
• Numbness or tingling in some part of the body;
• Chest pain or discomfort;
• Chills or feeling hot;
• Feeling outside of yourself;
• Fear of losing control or going crazy;
• Fear to die.

A panic attack can be confused with a heart attack, but in the case of a heart attack there is a squeezing pain in the heart that spreads to the left side of the body, getting worse over time. In the case of a panic attack, the pain is a stabbing pain located in the chest, with tingling and improves within a few minutes, and its intensity lasts 10 minutes, and the attack can last 20 to 30 minutes, at most.

It is very common in these cases to develop Agoraphobia, which is a type of psychological disorder where the person, for fear of having an attack, avoids situations where there is no quick help available or places where it is not possible to leave quickly, such as a bus. , planes, cinema, meetings, among others. Because of this, it is common for people to be more isolated at home, with absences from work or even social events.

Find out a little more about panic attacks, what to do and how to avoid them.

How to confirm if it is panic disorder

To confirm whether it is panic disorder, or even whether the person had a panic attack, the help of a psychologist or psychiatrist is needed. People often seek help when they notice that they are no longer able to leave the house alone for fear of a panic attack.

In this case, the doctor will make the diagnosis based on a story told by the person themselves, trying to differentiate it from other physical or psychological illnesses. It is very common for people who suffer from panic disorder to report these types of episodes in great detail, which demonstrates how dramatic the event is to the point of preserving such a vivid memory.

How to treat panic disorder

Treatment for panic disorder basically consists of combining therapy sessions with the use of medication. Currently, the most commonly used medications are antidepressants and, in most cases, symptoms improve considerably in the first few weeks of treatment.