Are Panic Attacks and Anxiety Attacks the Same Thing?

People who are not psychiatrists or doctors often think that a panic attack is the same thing as an anxiety attack. In the world of psychiatry, however, they are actually two different things. It is important that you understand the difference, so that you can be sure that you receive the right treatment when you visit your doctor, or when you use natural remedies.

Anxiety attacks have an actual cause, while a panic attack does not in most cases. For example, something bad has occurred in your life, and you have an attack of anxiety. This attack may include physical symptoms, such as shaking, a racing heart, and shortness of breath. These symptoms may last for just a few minutes, but they could also last for a few days.

Panic attacks rarely have a specific cause. There are extreme physical symptoms of an attack of panic. You may actually be convinced that you are having a heart attack. Shortness of breath and a racing heart are common symptoms, as they are with attacks of anxiety, but you may also feel nauseous, as well as experience other physical symptoms. Panic attacks can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.

Because the symptoms of both attacks of anxiety and attacks of panic are so very similar, there is another way that you can determine whether you are having an anxiety or panic attack. With the anxiety attack, your focus is on the situation that brought on the anxiety - the bad thing that happened in your life. With a panic attack, however, all of your focus is on yourself. You are convinced that something is going wrong with your body, or even your mind.

Essentially, life causes anxiety attacks while mental issues cause attacks of panic. For anxiety attacks, medication can be taken short term, although in most cases, it isn't necessary at all as once we have adjusted to the bad event in our life, the anxiety goes away and we no longer experience any anxiety attacks related to that event. Attacks of panic are different, of course, and they will require long term treatment, and possibly even life long treatment, as well as cognitive behavioral counseling.

In either case, there are some natural remedies for both anxiety and panic attacks that will ease the symptoms. These include meditation, herbal remedies, hypnosis, and aromatherapy to name just a few. Of course, there is also non-natural relief for attacks of panic in the form of anti-depressants and other drugs that can be prescribed by your doctor.

Angela likes talking about Urbane Scrubs and Landau Scrubs and also likes writing articles about various topics.