What is the Difference Between Anxiety and Panic Disorder?

Jasz

VIP Contributor
Panic disorder is a disorder in which a person experiences repeated panic attacks, which are episodes of intense fear that are not triggered by any obvious or known fear stimulus. A panic attack often occurs in response to a situation that a person may perceive as potentially dangerous, even though there is no real danger. Panic attacks can occur at any time and with no warning, and are characterized by the following:

-Palpitations, sweating, trembling
-Faintness or dizziness
-Feelings of choking and chest pain
-Nausea and abdominal distress
-Derealization (feeling detached from oneself)
-Fear of losing control or dying

Anxiety is said to be emotion associated to feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes such as increased blood pressure. Anxiety is often accompanied by nervous behavior such as pacing back and forth, somatic complaints (for example feeling sick), and rumination. It is the subjectively unpleasant feelings of dread over anticipated events such as the feeling of imminent death. Fear is not anxiety, which is a response to a real or perceived immediate threat, whereas anxiety involves the expectation of future threat. As such, anxiety is a feature of various mental disorders including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder and other specific phobia.
 

Holicent

VIP Contributor

The difference between anxiety and panic disorder is that anxiety is a normal human emotion that can be felt by almost everyone, while panic disorder is not.
As such, the two are closely related and often confused with each other. Simply put, if you have anxiety, then it is possible to have panic attacks, but if you have panic disorder, you will certainly experience anxiety. In fact, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) states that anxiety is a common symptom of panic disorder. The APA also defines anxiety as an "abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often accompanied by nervous behavior," while stating that a person experiencing a panic attack feels an intense or irrational fear of impending doom.

The difference between the two lies in the degree of severity and whether or not there are any diagnosable disorders involved. In fact, it is possible to have both at the same time. According to the Mayo Clinic, some people experience both conditions at different times in their lives, while others experience one and then develop the other later on down the road.
 
What is the difference between anxiety and panic disorder? This is a question that many people ask, as the two conditions can often seem similar. While both anxiety and panic disorder can cause feelings of fear and worry, there are some key differences between the two. Here are three key differences between anxiety and panic disorder:

1. Anxiety is a general feeling of worry or unease, while panic disorder is characterized by sudden and intense episodes of fear.
2. Anxiety can be triggered by a specific event or situation, while panic disorder can occur without any specific trigger.
3. Anxiety typically lasts for a short period of time and goes away once the triggering event is over, while panic disorder can last for weeks or even months.

One key difference between anxiety and panic disorder is the nature of the fear. Anxiety is a general feeling of worry or unease, while panic disorder is characterized by sudden and intense episodes of fear. This means that people with anxiety may feel fear in specific situations, such as before a big test or when speaking in public. On the other hand, people with panic disorder can experience fear even when there is no specific trigger. For example, they may wake up in the middle of the night with a feeling of intense fear.

Another difference between anxiety and panic disorder is the length of time that the fear lasts. Anxiety typically lasts for a short period of time and goes away once the triggering event is over. For example, a person with anxiety may feel fear before a big test, but the fear will go away once the test is over. Panic disorder, on the other hand, can last for weeks or even months. This means that people with panic disorder may feel fear even when there is no specific trigger.

The third key difference between anxiety and panic disorder is the treatment. Anxiety can often be treated with lifestyle changes, such as relaxation techniques or therapy. Panic disorder, on the other hand, often requires medication in addition to lifestyle changes. This is because the fear associated with panic disorder is often more intense and lasts for a longer period of time.
 
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