ok so in the past month this has happened two times. heres the setup…i start out with a day in school (im 13 in eighth grade) i walk across the street with my band and girlfriend and a few friends, have band practice then go home for a quick dinner. i eat (not a lot each time i would mention) and then go to some event with a lot of people…for example tonight i was supposed to go to the movies…the other time was at a school dance. then the same feeling sweeps over me. first i feel nervous and anxious then i start to feel light and my arms feel as if they have no weight. then i begin to panic and tell my friends. they tell me i should call my mom which i do but i find it very hard to focus while dialing my moms number. the first time i let it happen and didnt call my mom right away. it went away after 3 hours of sleep. this time it lasted about 5 minutes and as soon as my mom began to drive me home i felt almost completely fine…if you need more details please ask and thank you =) p.s. they were both fridays and i did everything almost exactly the same on both days
Anxiety Attacks Versus Panic Attacks
There are some differences between anxiety
and panic attacks. While books are written
on this topic, this lesson will attempt to
summarize some basics here for a brief
overview.
Anxiety Attacks
An anxiety attack, sometimes
referred to as a panic attack, is an
unforeseen periods or incidents where there
is a sudden fright or fear of intense
proportions. These attacks focus on fears
that are most often not rational; however the
person with the disorder believes he or she
is in terrible danger or at extreme risk.
Most often these anxiety attacks occur all of
a sudden; i.e. they are not planned nor do
they come with any type of warning mechanism
built in for advance action. Results are that
the person suffering the attack will feel
about to faint or near death’s door.
People who suffer anxiety attacks report the
following symptoms, listed in no particular
order:
Discomfort or pain in the chest Vertigo or
Dizziness Upset stomach / Nausea Loss of
Control, Loss of Mental Stability Stress
Cold or hot flashes Heart palpitations or
near heart attack Shallow breathing Shakes /
Trembling
Anxiety disorder is characterized as having
anxiety feelings that are "always there / all
inclusive," make people want to isolate
themselves from society and hamper everyday
activities with others.
Panic Attacks
On the other hand, a panic attack does not
carry with it that "always there"
association. In fact, panic episodes
generally burst forth, peaking after
roughly10 minutes or so, then ending after
about 25 minutes.
During a panic attack, 4 of the symptoms
listed below (in no particular order)
generally make an appearance:
Shallow breathing, even to the point of
suffocation sensation…
Increased heart rates Tightness of chest
Shakes / Trembling / Sweating Choking
sensation Upset Stomach / Nausea Vertigo
Surreal feelings Loss of Control, especially
of mental faculties Death coming on Numbing
Cold or hot flashes
The Difference
The main difference between anxiety attacks
and panic attacks is in the duration of the
attack and how intense it is for the person
with the affliction. While anxiety attacks
are less hi-stress, they tend to last longer
than the power-packed panic stressors.