Signs of panic attacks and anxiety attacks in women: similarities and differences

Panic attacks occur suddenly and are accompanied by intense, overwhelming fear. More often than not, there are also serious physical symptoms, such as palpitations, shortness of breath or nausea.

According to the medical classification, panic attacks can be unexpected and expected. Unexpected panic attacks occur for no obvious reason. Expected panic attacks are caused by external factors - most often phobias.

Panic attacks can happen to anyone, but they can also be indicative of panic disorder.

Anxiety is considered a sign of a range of mental disorders. Anxiety is usually associated with the anticipation of a stressful situation, experiences or critical events, and can manifest gradually, becoming more pronounced over time.

Signs and symptoms of anxiety can vary because there is still no clearly characterized diagnosis of "anxiety" in psychiatry. That is, one person may describe an "anxiety attack" and have symptoms that another person has never experienced.

Panic attacks and anxiety attacks can feel the same, and they share many of the same emotional and physical signs. In addition, you may experience anxiety and panic attacks at the same time. You may feel anxiety by worrying about a potentially stressful situation, such as an important presentation at work. When the situation develops, anxiety can lead to a panic attack.

It can often be difficult to determine whether a panic attack or an anxiety attack is happening to you. You can be guided by the following characteristics.

Unexpected panic attacks have no obvious external triggers. Expected panic attacks and anxiety can be triggered by a number of triggers:

Anxiety and panic attacks have similar risk factors. These include events such as:

People who experience anxiety are at increased risk for panic attacks. However, having anxiety does not mean that you are prone to manifesting panic attacks.

As we mentioned, doctors cannot diagnose anxiety attacks, but they can detect:

During the exam, the doctor will ask you about the symptoms you are experiencing and run tests to rule out other health conditions of a similar nature, such as heart disease or thyroid problems.

In order to make a diagnosis, the doctor may carry out:

The specialist will also talk about possible ways to eliminate anxiety and panic attacks. Here are some techniques often used in therapy.

Talk therapy for anxiety and panic disorders often goes in conjunction with other treatments - to address related issues and visualize progress.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of counseling that helps you see things that bother you from a new perspective. The counselor will work with you to develop strategies for managing triggers when they arise.

Cognitive therapy - helps to identify, reformulate and neutralize the unhelpful thoughts that most often underlie the anxiety disorder.

Exposure therapy involves controlled exposure to situations that cause fear and anxiety, which will teach you to confront your fears in a new way.

Relaxation techniques are breathing exercises with which you can control your thoughts, relax and shift your attention to other topics.

Here are examples of the types of medications that are prescribed by specialists for panic and anxiety disorders:

It is worth understanding that all of these drugs can have side effects. Some of them are intended for long-term use, while others can only be taken in very short courses, as there is a high risk of addiction.

These techniques can be used when you feel an attack of any kind coming on. In this way, you can monitor your condition and protect yourself from a breakdown. But don't forget to discuss any changes in your well-being with a specialist, and to seek advice about the use of certain techniques.

If you're feeling anxious or having a panic attack, try using the following tips.

These lifestyle changes can help you prevent anxiety and panic attacks, and reduce the severity of your attack symptoms.