Everyone has had to deal with a panic attack, but what is it actually? And what is the difference with an anxiety disorder?
What is a panic attack?
During a panic attack you are overcome by fear. You may then experience nausea, palpitations, trembling, weak legs, sweating and a light-headed feeling. It often appears very suddenly and can go away fairly quickly, but for many people it can be or feel very frightening. Such an attack always has a reason: you can be triggered by various circumstances, and it does not have to be a major trauma or serious event. Sometimes that is the case, but you can also feel the effects of the fact that your hormone levels may be out of balance, how you got up that morning or that you ate a little too little that day.
What is a panic disorder?
A panic attack is human, but if these attacks last for a long time and start to dominate your life, it is wise to seek out a professional for good help. After many attacks in a short time, you can develop a panic disorder: this limits daily life. You want to do everything you can to avoid the fear that will ultimately affect your school, work, friends and family, or health. You develop, as it were, a fear of anxiety, and you will need to talk about this with a therapist or psychologist.
What is an anxiety disorder?
A panic disorder is an example of an anxiety disorder, and there are many other anxiety disorders. They all have one thing in common: they influence everyday life. Examples of other anxiety disorders include:
- Hypochondria: The fear that causes you to be constantly afraid of (serious) diseases. All kinds of normal physical symptoms, such as itching, a twinge or cramps, are quickly seen as confirmation of a serious illness. Hypochondria is more often called illness anxiety or fear of illness.
- Obsessive compulsive disorder: People with obsessive compulsive disorder have an obsession or repeat certain actions over and over again. Not being able to perform the actions often leads to a lot of anxiety. Consider, for example, fear of contamination.
- Social Phobia: Social phobia is the fear that others will not like you. You are also afraid of being criticized and often think that people will laugh at you or think differently about you. It is then scary to maintain social contacts and participate in social activities.
- Fear of the street: A fear that arises when you go to public places, such as public transport, supermarkets or squares. This can make you afraid to leave the house and you will strongly avoid these places.
The difference
Panic and fear are very normal emotions, and it is not possible to get rid of these feelings completely. Panic attacks are temporary, but can turn into anxiety disorders. There are possibilities for solutions for both, but fear is a very normal physical reaction.
