Difference Between a Panic Attack and an Anxiety Attack: Diagnosis and Panic Attack Treatment in Pittsburgh, PA

People can experience two very different types of crisis:  panic and generalized anxiety.

An intense episode lasting 2-20 minutes of sudden fear experienced when there's no apparent threat or danger is known as a panic attack. It can be such a strong feeling of pain that, in some cases, people confuse it with a heart attack. 

On the other hand, in generalized anxiety, people may feel fearful and apprehensive. They may hear their heart pounding or have shortness of breath, clammy hands, tremors, or muscle tension but it's generally throughout the day or more persistent episodes lasting for hours that tends to be worse first thing in the morning, getting better through the day, and then sometimes worsening again in the evening. 

Panic and Generalized Anxiety Treatment in Pittsburgh, PA

Panic and generalized anxiety can bring sudden fear and leave you feeling shaken, but you don’t have to live with panic and anxiety. If you live in the Pittsburgh, PA, area, please visit Better Stories Tripp Psychiatry. Our experienced mental health providers have the qualifications to help treat these conditions. They know the different treatments for these crises and can help you get them under control to go back on your feet again. 

Signs of Social Anxiety

Social anxiety symptoms might include some fear of being watched by others while you go about your life. Anxiety can also be trigger when your thoughts turn to an embarrassing experience in the past because you may feel a strong impulse to flee from the situation. Your "fight or flight" response is activated, and it's challenging to go through your day feeling this way. 

Some common symptoms of anxiety include the following.

• Fatigue.

• Trembling hands.

• Difficulty swallowing.

• Shortness of breath.

• Rapid heartbeat or chest pain.

• Dizziness, lightheadedness, unsteady feeling, faintness.

• Sweating and clammy skin.

• Upset stomach or nausea; dry mouth.

• Hot flashes or chills.

Panic and Anxiety Relief

And even though panic and generalized anxiety aren't the same, there are some unfortunate situations where people might suffer both, simply because these conditions share symptoms, causes, and risk factors. In the end, panic attacks tend to be more intense and show more severe physical signs.

Take back control of your life by scheduling a virtual appointment with Better Stories in Pittsburgh.  Make an appointment here or call us at 855-874-7763.