How to Tell the Difference Between a Panic Attack and Anxiety
A painful wave of worry and dread just washed over you…even worse than that.
You’ve never felt such awful anxiety before. You were mentally paralyzed. You couldn’t think about anything else. What was that? Did you just have an anxiety attack or a panic attack?
As a Manhattan psychologist who has successfully treated thousands of New Yorkers with panic and anxiety, I’m happy to answer this question for you.
Allow me to explain.
(Please note that a “nervous breakdown” is something very different and often involves the complete inability to function after an extreme biological or environmental event. Chances are, if you’re able to read this article, you’re not having a nervous breakdown, but be sure to consult with a mental health professional to verify what you’re going through.)
The Difference Between Panic Attack and Anxiety Attack Symptoms
A panic attack is a different experience than an anxiety attack, although they do overlap. Allow me to explain what a panic attack is and that will help you understand much better.
- Panic attacks are not necessarily connected to a specific stressor. They may lead you to avoid certain places that bring on the…