Panic Attacks Or Panic Disorder, What's The Difference? (Podcast EP 285 / Foundations of Panic #5)
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- čas přidán 13. 02. 2024
- Having panic attacks does not always mean you have panic disorder. This week on The Anxious Truth we're digging into what differentiates panic attacks - even recurring panic attacks - from panic disorder.
In a nutshell, the primary differentiator here is fear/avoidance. When you begin to fear panic attacks because you interpret them as dangerous or too overwhelming, then you begin to modify and restrict your lifestyle to prevent or avoid them, you are panic disorder territory. Compare this to the very large number of people that will have panic attacks now and then without ever treating them this way. They have panic attacks, which they experience as individual events that they do not link together, and go about their lives mostly unconcerned or worried about a next panic attack.
This week we're also talking about why being anxious all the time is quite common in panic disorder and how panic disorder relates to other closely related conditions all categorized as "anxiety disorders" from a diagnostic point of view.
For full show notes on this episode:
theanxioustruth.com/285
For more content and resources:
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The good news is when you learn about your problem and find someone or a group to help you do not feel totally insane. I found a doctor who works with me and understands my issues. It is much better for me to be in avoidance and know rather than sit in my truck in tears unable to go in a store or even leave home. I struggle every single day, but, I understand more. If I can make a trip to 1 store and have to come home to the agoraphobia monster I come home and try again tomorrow. Never give up. ❤
Thank you Drew.❤
I personally now consider anxiety as an alternative mode of my body : I have a lot of energy and feel uncomfortable. I can do things that I wouldn't be able to do if I wasn't anxious, like exercising a lot. But sure it doesn't feel pleasant
Oooooh this is a good reframe. Its one possible state for a human. Not a state we ever want of course, and super uncomfortable and disruptive in its extreme state, but not a reason to turn one's entire life upside down. Great comment! Thanks for sharing.
I get so fixated on what im feeling every few mins and im on edge what it feels like 24/7 im scanning and checking allday everyday im ok for a few mins if im joking or cooking and then boom nausea must be stomach cancer must be this or that. 😤 exhausting
It is exhausting! No doubt. And its always OK to express that exhaustion and frustration because those are real emotions that we experience along the way. Just notice when expressing your frustration might accidentally into arguing on behalf of the anxiety. That can be sneaky. I see your other comments here, which are good. You seem to understand the principles and know the task at hand. That's good! Sometimes we can help ourselves make those difficult behavioral changes by starting to refrain from repeating the fear again and again. Not saying how scary it is actually counts as a step forward, and it can be an easier first step to take to "prime the pump".
So true funny you said that! Yesterday I had a complete breakdown I tried zoloft for the first time to see if it would help me function until i can fully accept it and my nerves desensitize. That crap made me fully psychotic 😮 full blown screaming attack, I did notice I now say its panic not “something medical” proud of that part just still havent fully accepted it yet. Thats the hardest part! But i just know i can do this. Just a rough journey.
That constant on edge feeling is moustly gone, it reapears sometimes for short but it is night and day how it was. Sometimes i think how i survived before when it was too intense. Sleeping is much better no more waking up in the midlle of the night in the semi panc state. Only thing left is negative thoughts especialy in the morning and early waking up. I can clearly see a progress here! Hoping that i will go even better and not slip back.
What I really love is that you are seeing your own progress. Keep going. It sounds like you're really doing it!
@@TheAnxiousTruth Much of progress thanks to you and joshua! Also i start to go to gym before 5 months (not for anxiety but for me). Seems that lizard understands that those stress hormones is burned due to exercise so he can take it easy 🤣.
yes! I constantly am anxious and on edge but don't experience a full on panic attack, only when my anxiety is really really high.i normally can identify the trigger. I constantly feel I have to be on guard for my next panic attack and feel like if I let my guard down I will lose control or what I fear will come true. I suffer from ocd intrusive thoughts so I am constantly worried about developing schizophrenia. I am scared when I have a panic attack or even when anxious due to the fear of going crazy/ losing touch with reality and in the moment of panic that's exactly what it feels like. it feels so real. It's a constant loop.
"Constant loop" is accurate. Can you identify a point along that loop where you can make a cut to break the loop? That "cut point" the moment where you hang on to prevent losing your sanity. That's the point where in OCD treatment the constant loop is broken by learning to refrain from the things you do to "hold on" and take a chance that you will lose your sanity (because we know that you won't). That experience - I didn't save myself and I guess I didn't really ever need to - is what breaks the loop. But that's really hard because it will FEEL very risky and dangerous to do that.
@@TheAnxiousTruth how does one just “let go” while so anxious or panicking how do you fully surrender
😮 okay I now know for sure I have panic DISORDER 🤦🏻♀️🫠😤
As crappy as it sounds you just have to let it do its thing, accept it, get to a point of not caring anymore through learning that it's temporary, not dangerous, and that its tricking you. Good luck, wishing you the best.
@@z.s3072 oh i know what i have to do lol its just harder than it sounds. I can do it but when you’re in that full blown zone its awful all that goes out the window 😭😂😣 the worst eventually ill give in.