The symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks do differ, but they can share a number of the same experiences. Anxiety is a normal feeling which everyone will experience at some point throughout their life. However, if you have a panic disorder, you’ll find that these feelings of anxiety and stress occur far more regularly.

Different types of anxiety include:

• Phobias – which are irrational fears of places, situations, objects or animals,
• Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – which is a long term condition causing excessive anxiety,
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – this causes a number of psychological and physical symptoms as a response to distressing events.

Symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks do differ. A panic attack is the name for a rush of psychological and physical symptoms related to anxiety. Some of these include:

• Nausea,
• Trembling,
• Sweating,
• Irregular heart beat.

The symptoms can be so strong that the experience is often frightening, though it is not dangerous and you aren’t usually admitted to hospital.

According to statistics, around 1 in every 10 people experiences panic attacks, and stressful events will usually cause them to happen. The severity of your anxiety will affect how many panic attacks you may experience, though women are more likely to suffer from panic attacks than men.

Whatever it is that you’re suffering from, the symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks can affect your life and the things you choose to do. It’s important to get help if they’re negatively affecting you. Although drugs may help in the short term, it’s important to try self help measures, such as those taught by Panic Away, to get to the root of the problem.