Panic Disorder Vs. Panic Attack

Introduction

Humans experience different types of emotions during their lifetime. These emotions include fear, joy, stress, depression, and anxiety. An individual's emotional response may vary according to the time and situation. Sometimes, certain emotions may be associated with triggers or trauma that aggravate the emotional reaction. These emotions are called panic attacks and may cause fear in an individual. This fear could disable regular activities and demand medical attention. There is a common confusion between panic attacks and panic disorders. This article clearly explains the difference between the condition, treatment, and management.

Why Do People Panic?

Panic is the response of the body to perceive a threat or danger, a natural response. The fight or flight response is activated when an individual suspects danger. A few symptoms, like sweating and rapid breathing, are associated with panic episodes.

What Is Panic Disorder?

The condition comprises episodes of fear at regular intervals, known as panic attacks. These attacks may occur suddenly without any apparent trigger and last a few minutes to several hours. Individuals experience a wide range of physiological and psychological symptoms that instill fear. This disorder is often accompanied by anticipatory anxiety and preoccupied fear. Some of the symptoms can be highly distressing and significantly impair the quality of life. It may affect an individual’s daily activities, especially public and social behavior.

What Is a Panic Attack?

An intense emotion of fear is accompanied by physical and psychological symptoms that last for a few hours. Stress, environmental factors, and physical exertion trigger panic attacks. They can affect an individual’s daily performance. If an individual experiences a panic attack, it does not mean that he is suffering from panic disorder. Panic attacks could also be due to other underlying medical conditions.

What Are the Symptoms of Panic Attacks?

Panic attacks may cause a wide range of emotions, which include physical and emotional symptoms. The symptoms are:

• Sweating.

• Trembling.

• Shortness of breath.

• Chest pain or discomfort.

• Nausea.

• Dizziness.

• Palpitations.

• Feeling hot or cold.

Panic attacks may last between a few minutes and hours and can be triggered by various factors like anxiety, stress, and certain medications.

What Causes Panic Attacks?

The causes of panic attacks are listed below:

• Major stress.

• Prone to negative emotions.

• Genetics.

Most panic attacks are unpredictable initially; however, with time, it is important to analyze the trigger factor for better understanding. Sometimes, the body’s natural fight or flight response may trigger panic attacks. It is common to see individuals experience increased heart rate and breathing in such conditions.

What Are the Risk Factors Involved in Panic Attacks?

Factors that result in an increased risk of panic disorder include:

• Family history of panic attacks.

• Traumatic events include a major accident or being sexually assaulted.

• Smoking excessively.

• Increased caffeine intake.

• History of childhood abuse.

• Major life changes.

• Significant life stressors, including the death or terrible sickness of a loved one.

What Is the Difference Between Panic Disorder and Panic Attack?

In a panic attack, a sudden, intense episode of fear may last a few minutes. During these episodes, an individual could experience either of the following symptoms such as:

1. Sweating.

2. Rapid heartbeat.

3. Difficulty breathing.

Factors like phobias and stress could trigger panic attacks.

Panic disorder is a mental condition characterized by recurrent panic attacks. Individuals often worry about future panic attacks. Therefore, they avoid certain situations and places. It also causes significant distress and impairs daily activities.

How to Diagnose Panic Disorders?

Panic disorders may require physiological and psychological evaluation by a healthcare professional. A detailed medical history is required to rule out any underlying medical conditions. A psychological evaluation may also be required to understand the individual’s frequency and intensity of symptoms. In addition, the healthcare professional may look for anxiety and depression. Panic disorders are evaluated with the help of questionnaires and rating scales, which are useful healthcare tools to evaluate the condition. Diagnosing the condition may aid the doctor in interpreting the requirements as per the patient’s needs.

How to Treat Panic Disorders?

Most panic disorders are treatable with a combination of psychotherapy and medications. Some common treatment approaches are mentioned below.

• Antidepressants like serotonin reuptake inhibitors and Benzodiazepines can be effective in reducing the frequency of panic attacks.

• Relaxation techniques like deep breathing and exercise to aid muscle relaxation can help reduce stress and anxiety.

• Lifestyle modifications like frequent exercise, healthy eating habits, and sufficient sleep help improve the overall well-being of an individual.

A qualified healthcare professional can suggest appropriate treatment depending on the type of symptoms and their severity.

What Are the Complications of Panic Disorders?

The following complications are associated with or may result from panic attacks:

• Limiting social interactions.

• Difficulties at the office or in the classroom.

• Heightened likelihood of suicide or thoughts of it.

• Anxiety disorders, depression, and more psychiatric conditions.

• Overuse of alcohol or other drugs.

• Formation of certain phobias.

What Are the Precautionary Measures to Be Followed to Avoid Panic Disorders?

Avoiding panic disorders can be quite challenging; however, taking a few measures can help with the condition.

• Stress is a common cause of panic disorders, so avoiding stress in possible ways can be helpful. Also, meditation, exercise, and breathing exercises can help relieve such symptoms.

• Get enough sleep as it calms down the body and nervous system.

• Relaxation techniques can prevent further anxiety attacks.

• Making lifestyle changes can improve the quality of life. Regular exercise, avoiding smoking, and a balanced diet can help with panic disorder.

• Treat panic disorders on time to avoid getting them more often.

• Follow the prescribed medication regularly to avoid panic attack symptoms getting worse or relapsing.

Practicing precautionary measures can decrease the likelihood of panic disorders and help with better symptom management.

Conclusion

To summarize, panic disorder is a type of anxiety characterized by recurrent panic attacks. The condition is characterized by sudden, intense fear and discomfort accompanied by physical symptoms. It may cause significant impairment in the individual’s daily functioning. Combining medical and psychotherapy with lifestyle modifications could help improve the quality of life. It is not always possible to prevent panic disorder; however, taking precautionary measures like avoiding alcohol and caffeine and getting sufficient sleep can help reduce the development of this condition. A healthcare professional can tailor the needs of an individual and aid with prompt treatment.