What is the difference between panic attacks and panic disorder?
When a person suffers a sudden intense period of anxiety, physical symptoms such as sweating, increased heart rate, stomach cramps and discomfort we call it a panic attack.
All of us experience fear at some point in our lives but we learn to control it and know most times it will pass. When people experience a panic attack, the symptoms are also accompaniced by the fear of impending death.
A true panic attack consists of physical symptoms and cognitive symptoms. As well as a rapid heart beat and sweating they can feel chest tightness and like they are having a heart atttack. They also feel there is no escape and that they are going crazy and will die.
A panic attack can be a one off experience but if it becomes recurrent and the person is worried about having further attacks, the consequences of further attacks and that they are going to die, it is called panic disorder.
The main difference is the way a panic attack is triggered. Normal panic attacks are triggered by something like fear of flying, fear of public speaking, fear of open spaces and so on. Panic disorder is usually not triggered by stimuli, rather driving in a car, eating or even waking up from sleep with a panic attack.
Whilst panic attacks and panic disorder are very unpleasant, you will not die from a panic attack. If they are ongoing though, you must seek medical attention beacuse the sympotoms do resemble life threatening conditions.
A normal panic attack lasts about 10 minutes then subsides in up to 1 hour.
Panic disorder treatment may include behavioural therapy and cognitive therapy to control irrational thoughts. It may include temporary medication to allow symptoms to be controlled whilst the person learns to control their breathing and their thoughts. The longer it is left untreated the worse it gets. So if you do have symptoms, seek help early. Treatment is very effective and works quickly.
