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Ok this might sound stupid but what do i count as anxiety and what do i count as panic?


17 years ago 0 2101 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Lol as i replied in the other thread that does clear things up further for me. I will try to make a go at it and i will ask more questions later if need be. Thank you! -Diva
17 years ago 0 8760 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Diva, Yes, panic attacks have varying degrees of intensity. Again, a panic attack is a sudden rise in intense fear and is usually accompanied by physical symptoms. Anxiety on the other hand is associated mostly with worry, negative self-talk and avoidance behavior. Do you have any more questions? Please don't hesitate to ask. I'm more than happy to help. Danielle ______________________ The PC Support Team
17 years ago 0 2101 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Well in a way i know what the panic attacks are. I had them plenty to know what it feels like. I even went to the hospital for them once or twice. It is the lower intensity attacks ijust can't figure out! They are exactly like panic attacks. sudden onset when i am high in anxiety, fear, and heart palpitations, rapid heart beat sweaty hands etc. and everything. Just like a panic attack. With one minor exeption that i don't feel quite as scared and i don't feel the neeed to lie down or go to the hospital. Now what kind of attack is that^? an anxiety attack? I mean cause it is an attack of some sort. It is more then your just run of the mill high anxiety which i know how to recongnize intimately btw lol. So is it just that panic attacks can have degrees of intensity. Or is it some other kind of attack? Or am i just making this tooo complicated? ( i probably am lol!) Anyway, i will try to take everybodys advice and just not focus on labels too much and just fill out my forms the best i can to figure out the patterns of my anxiety underwhichever non-labeled form it comes lol Thanks! -Diva.
17 years ago 0 8760 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Diva, A panic attack is defined as a brief episode of intense fear and it is usually accompanied by physical symptoms that may include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress. People who've experienced panic attacks describe experiences that are so overwhelming and terrifying that they really believe they are going to die, lose their minds, or be totally humiliated. These horrible things don't actually occur, but the chance seems very real to the person who is suffering the attack. I hope that helps to clarify. Try not to focus too much on labelling your anxiety, just keep focusing on gaining greater control on it. Danielle ________________________ The PC Support Team
17 years ago 0 2101 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Thanks a lot Maggie for your usual kindness and patience with me, it is much appreciated :) And yeah you both are right, Sue and Maggie, labels aren't what really count. As you said, Maggie it is knowing my anxiety levels and keeping them under control that matters mostly^^ Thanks to you both for answering me and for being patient with all my many many questions. I keep feeling like i am posting too much, too long and too often and imposing lol. But that is a story for another day i guess lol! Again thanks for the reply. I will try not to focus so much on the label and start just dealing with my anxiety and keep working the program^^ -Diva
17 years ago 0 112 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Just wanted to say that you are not alone again, and I too have had such questions. But I think Sue is absolutely correct about not worrying too much about labels, especially since anxiety (without the actual attack) can be so darn debilitating and last hours all on it's own. I also think that we become so much better at dealing with panic that sometimes we don't notice these attacks until much later, or not at all. I think this is a great thing too, so long as we still realize our anxiety levels, try to bring it down, and most importantly do NOT see it as anything else but just that. Anyhow Diva, you are not alone at all in your questions about this. This is actually why I stopped the CBT course here a few months back; I was having a hard time deciphering between anxiety and actual attacks. Later a support specialist helped me see that those details aren't that important after all. So... just keep battling that anxiety, and that's what your main goal should be. Good luck!
17 years ago 0 2101 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Thanks so much, this helps me a lot :) And yeah distraction is good lol Thanks for sharing with me i felt really understood and that means a lot to me cause asking that question the other day i felt real stupid lol. And yeah you are right my anxiety levels will come down, but thanks for reminding me lol. -Sincerely, Diva
17 years ago 0 77 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi Diva, no your question doesn't sound stupid at all ! Try not to get too hung up about labelling things, just aim, with this site to try and get your general level of anxiety down. I know exactly what you're talking about tho', during my 'recovery' my anxiety levels were through the roof, but apart from the odd occasion I never had to run away and lie down. I would try and distract myself, any way I could, try to get my breathing sorted, and generally try to concentrate on something else. I don't know about you, but when I was having a panic attack I would be incapable of any of that ! It would just hit me like a ton of bricks and I'd have to get my husband to help, lie down, floor or bed I didn't care where !And panic !! So I guess if you're able to function on some level I would say you're not having a panic attack ! Sounds to me like you're doing really well !! Your anxiety levels will come down, honestly, just try not to give in to it, distraction is definately the way to go !! Good luck, you can do it !
17 years ago 0 2101 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
You must understand that on top of panic disorder with agoraphobia i also suffer from GAD (generalized anxiety disorder). Well anyway, those are the diagnostics that pertain to this post anyway. Anyway, so in a way because of the GAD i am use to a certain level of anxiety and anxiety symptoms at well almost all times. So it makes it hard form me to figure out the threshold between an anxiety attack and a panic attack. For example. If i suddenly feel hot and shaky and my hands are sweaty and my heart beat just goes up really fast and all that and then it just beats at 110 per minute for hours i don't count that as a apanic attack unless i feel the need to lie down because i think i am dying or because i am freaking out of my mind and needing to just be left alone. If i mange to go about my activity even tho my heart is pounding 110 per minute (ihave counted it lol i am a heart rate checker >.<) for hours on end and i sweat and have pain and i shake and have all other symptoms of a panic attack, i don't count it as a panic attack i count it as more of an anxiety feeling or anxiety attack. The only thing i consider a panic attack is when it immobilizes me. When it causes me to flee or go lie down, when it obliges me to deal with that and just that for an extended period. Now, my question is am I off or not in my assessment of a panic attack versus just normal anxiety? I find this all very confusing! And because of that my weekly diary that i just filled in today for my step two in the program just kind of makes no sense at all! Now if anybody could help me clear this up i would surely appreciate it so that next time i fill out stuff like today i might get something that makes sense lol, Plus, i would like to know just for myself :) Thanks a bunch guys! -Diva

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