Once you understand the difference between anxiety and panic attacks, you\u2019ll know whether you or a loved one is having an episode of anxiety or a panic attack, and you\u2019ll know how to treat them both. You can also start to learn what triggers anxiety attacks vs panic attacks, and recognize the mental, emotional and physical symptoms of each.<\/p>\n Feeling stressed or feeling anxious is different from having an anxiety attack. Anxiety attacks are generally triggered by specific situations. In this aspect, they are easier to deal with because you know when to expect one. You can then either avoid the situation or have a contingency plan in place to manage it.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, an anxiety attack\u2019s symptoms can linger over days, weeks or even months. They do not come and go but instead build up gradually. When your anticipation of an unwanted situation builds up (which may or may not include the problem actually happening), and you just can\u2019t take it anymore, it may feel like a sudden \u201cattack\u201d.<\/p>\n In my case, I used to have anxiety attacks around the subject of a terminal illness. I was once surrounded by people in the palliative care space, who did not respect me when I said \u201cI don\u2019t want to talk about this\u201d because what they were saying would bring up painful memories. They would also dismiss me whenever I spoke about antiaging and life extension, even though I was (and am) clearly passionate about it. The repeated invalidation and dismissal of my experiences would lead to anxiety attacks, but I would manage or prevent them by leaving the room. Now, I no longer have them as I don\u2019t have to interact with those who created the situation.<\/p>\n In many ways, panic attacks are more challenging to manage and regulate than anxiety attacks. Panic attacks don\u2019t always have an identifiable trigger, where your body and mind send \u201cdanger signals\u201d before things get out of hand. Instead, you suffer suddenly from an intense feeling of fear, terror or other uncomfortable emotion. A panic attack comes on suddenly, with extreme emotion bursting out of nowhere.<\/p>\n However, the \u201cupside\u201d to panic attacks is that they generally peak after 10 minutes and then subside. You don\u2019t suffer from lingering effects for days on end, and you may even feel like your normal self again within an hour or two.<\/p>\n Anxiety attacks, on the other hand, can last several hours.<\/p>\n Prevention is always best when it comes to anxiety and panic attacks. In the case of anxiety attacks, it is sometimes possible to avoid situations where you know an attack will be triggered. Just like in my experience, you may be able to prevent an anxiety attack by changing who you associate with. It may also be possible and necessary to change your job, daily routine, or even where you live.<\/p>\n If you can\u2019t simply get away from the \u201cdanger\u201d situation, it could be helpful for you to start by recording a stress diary, similar to a food diary. You may uncover some unknown situational triggers; link physical health issues<\/a> to stress and anxiety, or find out how much stress you can handle before it all boils over into an anxiety or panic attack. On the other hand, you may find that meditation, certain types of exercise<\/a>, or mindfulness activities increase the amount of stress you can handle. These pieces of information can altogether help you construct a \u201cstress budget\u201d. It won\u2019t take just one day, but maybe very useful if you have a stressful career or lifestyle and need to manage, but not eliminate, your major stressors.<\/p>\n There are also ways to balance your brain chemistry, so you can restore your healthy levels of neurotransmitters and support overall brain function. They include:<\/p>\n You may benefit from supplementation with nutrients such as magnesium, vitamin B6, folate, and vitamin C, which are required for neurotransmitter production<\/a>. For example, magnesium<\/a> and vitamin B6 contribute to the production of GABA, a relaxing neurotransmitter. Vitamins B6, B12 and folate keep the methylation cycle going, which prevents homocysteine buildup. Not only is homocysteine inflammatory, but supporting its natural cycle allows for the production of serotonin and dopamine. These lift mood and promote motivation and focus, respectively.<\/p>\n Taking cannabidiol (CBD)-rich hemp oil<\/a> may help to relieve anxiety too. Multiple clinical trials show that CBD can soothe anxiety in situations such as public speaking, or anxiety caused by using THC. CBD oil<\/a> works by calming the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is responsible for stress hormone production. It also disrupts connections to the \u201cfear centre\u201d of the brain, the amygdala.<\/p>\n Adaptogens are a class of herbal medicines that support our resilience to physical and mental stresses. For example, ashwagandha<\/a> has been shown to significantly reduce symptoms and levels of cortisol over 60 days in people with anxiety. This may help to reduce your level of perceived stress, so you don\u2019t go over your daily stress budget. Rhodiola<\/a> can both lower cortisol and slow the breakdown of neurotransmitters. When your serotonin and dopamine stick around longer, you can enjoy an improved mood and an increased ability to deal with whatever life throws at you. Siberian ginseng<\/a> may have the added benefit of protecting your immune cells from the damage caused by excess cortisol. It may improve your turnover of dopamine and noradrenaline levels in the brain too.<\/p>\n![\"circlemagazine-circledna-difference-between-anxiety-and-panic-attack\"](\"https:\/\/images.pexels.com\/photos\/3132388\/pexels-photo-3132388.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&dpr=1&w=500\")
<\/figure>\nWhat is an Anxiety Attack?<\/h2>\n
The Difference Between Anxiety and Panic Attacks<\/h2>\n
How To Pre-Emptively Calm Your Mind<\/h2>\n
Brain-Boosting Nutrients<\/h3>\n
CBD Oil<\/h3>\n
![\"circlemagazine-circledna-difference-between-anxiety-and-panic-attack\"](\"https:\/\/images.pexels.com\/photos\/3752834\/pexels-photo-3752834.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&dpr=1&w=500\")
<\/figure>\nAdaptogenic Herbs<\/h3>\n
How a CircleDNA Test Can Help You Manage Your Stress<\/h2>\n