Phrases like “anxiety attack” and “panic attack”‘ get thrown around in daily conversation fairly often. Many people even diagnose themselves based on what they think an episode might be. To dedicated healthcare professionals, it’s no surprise that panic and anxiety attacks are part of an ongoing cultural dialogue, as millions of Americans suffer from symptoms of anxiety every year. But anxiety doesn’t discriminate based on age; it can strike anyone at any time in life. It’s crucial to know the difference between a panic vs. anxiety attack because they are deeply interrelated but have differing conditions. Knowing what you’re dealing with can help you seek the right level of care from a team of therapists and medical professionals.
At True Life Center, our panic disorder treatment program provides compassionate care specifically designed for each individual’s needs. We provide comprehensive anxiety treatment in San Diego that addresses the underlying causes of anxiety and teaches strategies to cope with this mental health disorder. If you or a loved one might benefit from compassionate and supportive care for a wide range of mental health disorders, including anxiety disorders and panic disorders. Find out more about how we can help you or someone you care about find balance and contentment by calling 866.420.1792 or filling out our online contact form.
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety evolved alongside our distinctive intelligence as a reaction to stress. It crops up to set off an alarm, warning us that a situation could become dangerous, uncomfortable, or unfamiliar. But for some people, this signal gets activated and won’t turn off. Being stuck with the switch “on” pushes anxiety from a normal, healthy adaptive mechanism into the territory of a debilitating disorder that can range from mild to severe. The longer and more regularly you experience this kind of heightened state, the more your nervous system will be cued into a state of hyper-arousal that can last for days, weeks, or even months.
Common symptoms of anxiety include:
- Insomnia
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Excessive worrying
- Feeling on edge
- Racing heartbeat
Triggers such as traumatic and stressful events need to be identified and understood for the healing journey to begin. That’s one of the main reasons an anxiety or trauma treatment program at True Life Center can be effective for those suffering from extreme anxiety.
What Is Panic vs. Anxiety Attack?
If you’re struggling to differentiate between a panic attack vs. anxiety attack, you’re not alone. People often conflate the two for a good reason. Panic and anxiety share many emotional and physical symptoms, and someone can be suffering from both at the same time. But whereas anxiety is more anticipatory and gradual, panic attacks are an abrupt symptom or culmination of anxiety that manifests much more intensely and suddenly, almost out of the blue. Panic strikes with an overwhelming sense of fear.
Common symptoms of panic attacks are:
- Trembling
- Hyperventilation
- Racing heartbeat
- Numbness or tingling
- Lightheadedness
- Trouble swallowing
Although the first round of symptoms may decrease after ten minutes, further rounds can make the experience feel prolonged. Some typical triggers for panic attacks include:
- Workplace tension
- Chronic illness or pain
- Drug withdrawal
- Over-caffeination
- Socializing
- Thyroid problems
At True Life Center’s mental health intensive outpatient program (IOP) and partial hospitalization program (PHP), we treat both panic attacks and anxiety attacks with our unique Neurobiological Integration (NBI) program. Our NBI program is used to discover the root cause of illness and utilize an integrated and collaborative approach that gets results. This includes:
- Individual psychotherapy with DBT, CBT, EMDR, or psychodynamic approach
- Expert psychiatric treatment
- Acupuncture
- Mindfulness and self-compassion practices
- Yoga therapy
- Body healing with Qi Gong
Find the Right Treatment for Panic and Anxiety at True Life Center
Whether you’re struggling with a panic attack or an anxiety attack, you may feel like your symptoms are out of control. The therapeutic and healing modalities we offer at True Life Center can change all of that. We’ll help you recognize whether you’re dealing with a panic attack or anxiety attack and then create a plan customized to your mind, body, and spirit.
At True Life Center, our team provides compassionate mental health treatment in San Diego that gives people the tools to manage symptoms of anxiety disorders and panic disorders. Our anxiety and panic attack treatment may be the key for you or a loved one to be able to enjoy life. Our True Life Center team is committed to providing people with the tools they need to ease the effects of panic attacks or anxiety.
If you or someone you care about might benefit from our programs and services, learn more from our True Life Center team when you contact us by filling out our online form or calling 866.420.1792. We will work together to instill the tools and values you need to cultivate a deep, abiding sense of calm and security for years to come.
