..whats the difference between the two, and what are the symptoms? Sometimes, when Im in bed analyzing about everything stressful in my life, I can feel my heart beating a million times a minute. Its weird. Im not gasping for breath or anything, but my heart will just be beating away, Ill get kinda shakey too. Weird.

There isn't a difference really. When I had them I'd cry easily, my mouth would get very dry, I'd get the shakes and I'd drop things alot

When I am going to sleep but I'm really worried or stressed over something, I will just lay there and shake and my heart will get really fast. I can't stand when that happens.

Panic attacks are extreme anxiety. Your heart beats real fast, you sweat, feel trapped...extreme fear. It feels kind of like the walls are closing in on you and there's no way out. You life sort of stops for a moment.

Anxiety is just worry. You don't get so worried you go so far as an attack. If you have an anxiety problem, you worry constantly, or worry most about things you cannot control.

Originally posted by Vera Wang
When I am going to sleep but I'm really worried or stressed over something, I will just lay there and shake and my heart will get really fast. I can't stand when that happens.

When I was younger, I used to get so worried that I used to shake uncontrolably for like 5 minutes. That was an attack.

o0o thanks Cathy!:D

Originally posted by dawsongirl
Panic attacks are extreme anxiety. Your heart beats real fast, you sweat, feel trapped...extreme fear. It feels kind of like the walls are closing in on you and there's no way out. You life sort of stops for a moment.

Anxiety is just worry. You don't get so worried you go so far as an attack. If you have an anxiety problem, you worry constantly, or worry most about things you cannot control. I agree with dawsongirl...........

Originally posted by ¤MsConanOBrien¤
o0o thanks Cathy!:D

Anytime. :D

dawsongirl, is there a different between an "anxiety attack" and a "panic attack?" I can't figure out if they mean the same thing, or if the term "panic attack" is used when an attack is really extreme.

Originally posted by Cashodeen
dawsongirl, is there a different between an "anxiety attack" and a "panic attack?" I can't figure out if they mean the same thing, or if the term "panic attack" is used when an attack is really extreme.

I think they mean the same thing, because most panic attacks are caused by high anxiety. If you're just sitting there worrying, but you don't start shaking or breathing heavy, you're not really having an attack. That's just anxiety. If you do that all the time though, you probably have an anxiety problem. That's what I did. I had very few attacks, but I was always worried to the point of making myself sick.

I hope that made sense. :)

Originally posted by dawsongirl


I think they mean the same thing, because most panic attacks are caused by high anxiety. If you're just sitting there worrying, but you don't start shaking or breathing heavy, you're not really having an attack. That's just anxiety. If you do that all the time though, you probably have an anxiety problem. That's what I did. I had very few attacks, but I was always worried to the point of making myself sick.

I hope that made sense. :)

Yeah, that completely makes sense. Thanks.

I worry constantly about things I can't control- It's got to being an obsession now. Today though I felt really embarassed in class (a 'joke', well, more of a joke within an amusing idea, of mine was repeated, but the repeaters twisted the words, and changed it about, and I ended up looking like a psycho, well, so I thought) and afterwards I felt physically ill for ages, and really really warm.

Originally posted by webuster
I worry constantly about things I can't control- It's got to being an obsession now. Today though I felt really embarassed in class (a 'joke', well, more of a joke within an amusing idea, of mine was repeated, but the repeaters twisted the words, and changed it about, and I ended up looking like a psycho, well, so I thought) and afterwards I felt physically ill for ages, and really really warm.

:( If it happens all the time, it might be worth seeing a doctor about. No one should live in a constant state of worry. I did, and it was awful.

Originally posted by dawsongirl
Panic attacks are extreme anxiety. Your heart beats real fast, you sweat, feel trapped...extreme fear. It feels kind of like the walls are closing in on you and there's no way out. You life sort of stops for a moment.


And they are so not fun to have.

Hi all,
Boy, have I had experience with this kind of thing! And, if I've learned one thing it's that quite often, your mind can be your worst enemy.

About 25 years ago (I'm 46 now), I developed a terrible nervous disorder. I think it was brought on by a combination of different things I was going through at the time (marital unhappiness, starting a brand new very difficult job, and returning to school for the first time in years). Whatever the cause, I started feeling absolutely awful -- aches and pains, tired all the time, my heart racing a mile a minute at times. I felt like breathing was no longer involuntary -- like I had to *think* about breathing or I wouldn't do it. I became afraid to go to sleep, worrying that I'd simply stop breathing in my sleep 'cause I wasn't thinking about doing it. Needless to say, that never happened, I always woke up alive, but being awake continued to be a total nightmare. I went through just about every medical test there was -- all came out okay. Still, I missed a lot of time from work, even totally ruined a surprise birthday party that was thrown for me, by hiding out in an upstairs bedroom all night. The worse I felt, the more I worried about it. And, the more I worried, the worse I would feel. I had no idea that the worry was causing the rotten feeling, and the rotten feeling was causing more worry. A wise doctor finally told me that I had to break that cycle, and he put me on a daily dose of Valium to help me accomplish that. He also gave me some incredible little pills, which, when taken during those heart palpitations, would bring my heart rate from around 150 beats per minute all the way down to about 70, within a matter of minutes. And, I was fine.

But then, a few years later, I somehow acquired a fear that I might have a heart attack, a stroke, a brain hemorrhage or something horrible like that while standing on line at the supermarket, or while driving my car, or while hanging out with friends. I became afraid to go anywhere. That developed into agoraphobia (total terror of leaving my home). I had many an anxiety attack while driving on the highway or while walking alone somewhere at night. A selfhelp book about dealing with anxiety helped me through that.

These days, I still -- though rarely -- have moments of anxiety about certain things. They usually lead to total paralyzing panic and those moments are complete Hell for me! But, they always pass. I know it's my mind screwing with me.

To those suffering from these types of things, know that you're not the first person to ever go through it . . . and remember that you're not alone.

Later,
Art

P.S. I *did*, coincidentally, have a brain hemorrhage, a little over 20 years ago, and very, very, very nearly died. But, guess what -- I didn't! :)

Originally posted by Artfiore1
Hi all,
Boy, have I had experience with this kind of thing! And, if I've learned one thing it's that quite often, your mind can be your worst enemy.

About 25 years ago (I'm 46 now), I developed a terrible nervous disorder. I think it was brought on by a combination of different things I was going through at the time (marital unhappiness, starting a brand new very difficult job, and returning to school for the first time in years). Whatever the cause, I started feeling absolutely awful -- aches and pains, tired all the time, my heart racing a mile a minute at times. I felt like breathing was no longer involuntary -- like I had to *think* about breathing or I wouldn't do it. I became afraid to go to sleep, worrying that I'd simply stop breathing in my sleep 'cause I wasn't thinking about doing it. Needless to say, that never happened, I always woke up alive, but being awake continued to be a total nightmare. I went through just about every medical test there was -- all came out okay. Still, I missed a lot of time from work, even totally ruined a surprise birthday party that was thrown for me, by hiding out in an upstairs bedroom all night. The worse I felt, the more I worried about it. And, the more I worried, the worse I would feel. I had no idea that the worry was causing the rotten feeling, and the rotten feeling was causing more worry. A wise doctor finally told me that I had to break that cycle, and he put me on a daily dose of Valium to help me accomplish that. He also gave me some incredible little pills, which, when taken during those heart palpitations, would bring my heart rate from around 150 beats per minute all the way down to about 70, within a matter of minutes. And, I was fine.

But then, a few years later, I somehow acquired a fear that I might have a heart attack, a stroke, a brain hemorrhage or something horrible like that while standing on line at the supermarket, or while driving my car, or while hanging out with friends. I became afraid to go anywhere. That developed into agoraphobia (total terror of leaving my home). I had many an anxiety attack while driving on the highway or while walking alone somewhere at night. A selfhelp book about dealing with anxiety helped me through that.

These days, I still -- though rarely -- have moments of anxiety about certain things. They usually lead to total paralyzing panic and those moments are complete Hell for me! But, they always pass. I know it's my mind screwing with me.

To those suffering from these types of things, know that you're not the first person to ever go through it . . . and remember that you're not alone.

Later,
Art

P.S. I *did*, coincidentally, have a brain hemorrhage, a little over 20 years ago, and very, very, very nearly died. But, guess what -- I didn't! :)

I for one completely agree that your mind is your worst enemy. Mine has fought me for years.

I never got to the point of agroaphobia, but I skipped so many classes in college I nearly flunked, just because I was afraid something bad was going to happen in class and I'd go insane.

I got diagnosed with a number of different stomach problems and went thru way too many drugs...and the whole time it was anxiety. But the years of undiagnosed anxiety did ruin my digestive system.

I've got it mostly under control now thanks to Paxil, but I still get depressed and scared, like right now. But I guess it's better.

as of right now im really anxious and nervous for no reason. i hate it when that happens. i keep trying to calm down but i cant.

Originally posted by safety pin
as of right now im really anxious and nervous for no reason. i hate it when that happens. i keep trying to calm down but i cant.

I was always like that for the littlest little things. Medication worked a tad. :nod:

Originally posted by safety pin
as of right now im really anxious and nervous for no reason. i hate it when that happens. i keep trying to calm down but i cant.

:( I know that feeling all too well. And you have to have patience for it to, like...go away on its own. I don't have patience. I just cried.

Hang in there. :)