Imagine sitting in a meeting when suddenly, your heart starts pounding, your palms get sweaty, and you feel an overwhelming sense of doom. Is it a panic attack or an anxiety attack?

Many people experience these symptoms and struggle to understand what’s happening to them. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, anxiety disorders affect around 3.3 million Australians, making it crucial to understand the differences between panic attacks and anxiety attacks.

Understanding these differences not only helps in managing the symptoms more effectively but also in seeking appropriate treatment. Let’s look at the definitions, symptoms, causes, differences, and treatment options for panic attacks and anxiety attacks, providing you with a comprehensive guide to handling these challenging experiences.

Understanding Panic Attacks

Definition

A panic attack is a sudden, intense fear or discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes. In individuals susceptible to panic attacks, this response can become overactive. 

When the brain perceives a threat, even if it’s not real, it triggers a cascade of physiological reactions: adrenaline is released, heart rate increases, and breathing quickens.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), panic attacks are characterised by a surge of intense fear or discomfort that peaks within minutes and includes at least four of the following symptoms.

Physical Symptoms of Panic Attacks

• Rapid heart rate

• Sweating

• Trembling or shaking

• Shortness of breath

• Chest pain or discomfort

• Psychological Symptoms of Panic Attacks

• Intense fear or terror

• Feelings of detachment from reality (derealisation)

• Fear of losing control or “going crazy.”

• Fear of dying

Duration and Onset

Your panic attacks might last between 5 to 20 minutes. However, they may even go on for an hour. You can have them suddenly, without warning. You may not be in a triggering situation sometimes.

Causes and Triggers

Panic attacks can happen because of different factors:

Environmental Factors: You may have faced abuse or stress for too long. You can develop anxiety and panic attacks if you were in physical, emotional, or sexual distress even once. 

Also, if your surroundings are always stressful—because of too much work, financial instability, or an unstable home life—you can have frequent panic attacks.

Substance abuse or withdrawal can also result in panic attacks. Alcohol, caffeine, and illegal drugs can change your brain chemistry and increase your anxiety. 

For example, alcohol is a depressant. It can disbalance the neurotransmitters in your brain… and you feel anxious or panicked.

Similarly, drug withdrawal can imbalance your brain’s chemical environment.

Stress: You might have some stressors in your life that can trigger panic. You may: Have lost your job, been going through a divorce, or had a trauma. Such things can make you more anxious than anything else. Stress affects your balance of cortisol and adrenaline to cause panic attacks.

Genetics: You can inherit anxiety and panic, too. Research shows that panic disorder can run in families… just like other disorders. If your parent, sibling, or a close relative has panic attacks or panic disorder… you may be at risk, too.

Medical Conditions: Some medical disorders can look like or trigger panic attacks. Hyperthyroidism causes an overproduction of thyroid hormones. 

This shows in the form of a pounding heart rate, anxiety, and panic attacks. Also, heart arrhythmias or irregular heartbeats can give you palpitations and chest pain. This resembles panic attack symptoms.

Effect of Panic Attacks on You

• Your daily activities disrupt completely

• You may develop agoraphobia

• Your personal and professional relationships might crumble

• You may develop physical health issues, i.e. increased heart rate and blood pressure

• You have negative effects on your quality of life and mental well-being

• You might develop isolated behaviours, i.e. avoiding places where you faced a hurtful situation

Understanding Anxiety Attacks

Definition

An anxiety attack, although not a formally recognised term in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), refers to a period of intense anxiety and psychological distress. You can say you (or someone) is anxious if they feel intense fear whenever they face triggering situations.

Physical Symptoms of Anxiety Attacks

• Muscle tension

• Headaches

• Fatigue

• Irritability

• Increased heart rate

• Psychological Symptoms of Anxiety Attacks

• Fear

• Restlessness

• Constant worry

• Difficulty in concentrating

• Forever fear of a big danger

Duration and Onset

Anxiety attacks don’t happen out of the blue. Your mind and body build them up slowly whenever you face a hurtful situation. These attacks can go on from a few minutes to a few hours… or even days. It depends on your anxiety level.

Causes and Triggers of Anxiety Attack

Chronic Stress: You can have anxiety attacks if you stay in stress for too long. Your anxiety will build up slowly… and burst out in the form of attacks. For example, work-related pressures, personal worries, or monetary problems.

Traumatic Events: Your mental health ight take a nosedive if you faced a trauma in your life. For example, accidents, natural disasters, or violence of any kind. These memories never leave you. They keep making you more and more anxious until you start having anxiety attacks.

Anxiety Disorders: Anxiety disorders, i.e. Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can also cause anxiety attacks. Why? Because you develop chronic anxiety and worry which results in outbursts.

Thought Patterns: Negative thoughts and beliefs, i.e. Catastrophizing (Always expecting the worst), Over-generalising (One failure equals to a life full of failures), and criticising yourself too much…can increase your anxiety.

Impact of Anxiety Attack

• Impaired concentration and decision-making abilities

• Strained relationships due to increased irritability and withdrawal

• Decreased work or academic performance

• Avoidance of social situations and potential isolation

• Heightened sensitivity to stress and reduced overall quality of life

• Physical health issues like insomnia, headaches, and gastrointestinal problems

Differences Between Panic Attack vs Anxiety Attack

1. Symptoms Comparison

While both panic and anxiety attacks share some symptoms, panic attacks typically involve more intense physical symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath. In contrast, anxiety attacks are characterised by ongoing, persistent worry and tension.

2. Onset and Duration

Panic attacks have a sudden and acute onset, often peaking within minutes. In contrast, anxiety attacks build up gradually and can last much longer.

3. Triggers and Causes

Panic attacks often occur without a clear trigger, while anxiety attacks are usually linked to specific stressors or ongoing anxiety issues.

4. Intensity and Frequency

The intensity of panic attacks is generally higher, with more severe symptoms and a more abrupt onset. Anxiety attacks are less intense and can be more persistent and long-lasting.

Treatment and Management

Seeking professional help is crucial for both panic and anxiety attacks because it allows individuals to receive specialised care for their specific needs. Therapists can provide comprehensive treatment plans.

When it comes to addressing panic attacks and anxiety attacks, various therapeutic approaches can provide relief. Each method has its unique principles and techniques tailored to different needs. Compared to talk therapies, these methods can be very effective, often reducing anxiety significantly in just 2-5 sessions.

Clinical Hypnotherapy

As anxiety is a subconscious reaction, accessing the subconscious level to make changes can help alter negative thought patterns and reduce anxiety symptoms effectively.

Havening

It is a psychosensory treatment method. It uses gentle touch to make you calm and feel safe. Havening rewires your brain’s response to stress and curbs anxiety.

Family Constellation

Focus on your family dynamics to see if you have unresolved generational issues that may be making you anxious. This method allows you to recover through recognising and resolving negative family patterns.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Helpful for both panic and anxiety attacks. This method helps you to recognise and resolve negative thoughts and behaviours.

Benefits of Using Hypnotherapy to Treat Anxiety and Panic Attacks

Hypnotherapy helps you to reach into your subconscious mind. Then you can recognise and resolve the hidden root causes of your anxiety.

• Reduces anxiety and stress levels

• Promotes deep relaxation and calmness

• Improves sleep quality and reduces insomnia

• It helps uncover and address the root causes of anxiety

• Supports positive behavioural changes

• Strengthens focus and concentration

• Encourages positive thinking and self-esteem

• Reduces frequency and intensity of panic attacks

Self-Help Strategies

Mindfulness and Meditation: Practices that can reduce stress and improve overall mental health.

Lifestyle Changes: Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and adequate sleep are necessary in managing anxiety and panic symptoms.

In a Nutshell

You must know that panic attacks and anxiety attacks are different. You will be able to get the right professional help if you know the difference. For example, panic attacks may seem like heart attacks. On the other hand, you cannot let go of fear and worry in an anxiety attack.

Make It Happen Hypnotherapy (MIHH) specialises in treating panic and anxiety attacks. Book a FREE Consultation to learn more about how we can help you.