Bipolar Support Group

I wanted to know if there was a difference between a anxiety attack and a panic attack. I know this is a dumb question but I have heard both terms and I do not know the difference.

Also, does anybody know why people with Bipolar Disorder have anxiety problems? Since I was diagnosed in 2003 I have struggled with anxiety attacks and did not have a problem with them before 03'. Anxiety can be debilitating.

I don't know if there is a difference either. Good question. I would like to know that one myself. You know, now that you mention it. I have always been pretty much like this. I allways felt neglected from my mom, abused by stepdad and dad, my real dad tried to kill me, lived in foster homes, beaT MY ex husband, and moved alot. My living situations have stabled alot since I left my ex in 1996, however, the probs with my children bring me to my knees. Also, I feel that my hubby is to strict on them most of the time and wished that he wouldn't yell. This makes me feel helpless. However, he is always there to take them to apts, works a stable job to put bread on the table, takes time to take them out once in a while, and makes sure their chores are done. He says that it's because he has to be strict to make sure they do what they are suppose to. However, they have started hitting us and I think that that is the cause. sorryto ramble. I hope someone has the answer to your question. didn't mean to get off sub.

From the info I've read online it is a very high percentage of bipolars that have anxiety issues.

My interpretation of the two is... Panic attacks are a sudden reaction. Let's say some kind of trigger that you immediately react to. Anxiety attacks build up over a day or more then hit you out of nowhere. Just sitting watching T.V. or something. This is just MY interpretation. I'm not sure what the clinical difference is.

I'm not sure what, if there is any difference, what it might be. DG might be right. I just call mine anxiety, but they could be called panic because of the symptoms onset. Now that you've mentioned this, I"m going to ask my pdoc.

BP gets worse as we age, so the onset of attacks isn't surprising. I didn't use to hallucinate, but now I do. It is just progressing. The good news is that it's being controlled by meds and anxiety/panic attacks can be as well.

I just call it anxiety; not sure what the difference is, maybe, as uppity said too, Defiantgroundhog has it right.

I also think a lot of people who have bipolar also suffer anxiety. For a long time i hardly had any anxiety b/c i took Klonopin daily. Now over the past 2 yrs i don't take Klonopin daily (i was having too many lows so pdoc took me right off and upped my Lithium dose). Now I only take it when needed. I guess the Klonopin was really keeping anxiety in check.

I thought that the level of anxiety was the difference. People with panic attacks think they are dying or having a heart attack. But I don't really know for sure.

At one time i was diagnosed as having General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) along with depression. I'm not sure if i still suffer from GAD. I was prescribed an anti-depressent (Clonipramine or Anafranil, known to treat people with OCD) and Klonopin (small dose) for 13 yrs prior to being put on a mood stabilizer. I used to think i was cured b/c i did not feel anxious anymore, guess the med combo worked for me. I was high functioning and working fulltime then. (i think i was hypomanic half the time and was self-medicating most of the time with alcohol during my 20s & early 30s).

Well, i eventually got put on Lithium 1996. I stopped self-medicating then.

Finally i got re-assessed at the Mental Health Centre for a period of 1 month and was finally diagnosed as being bipolar 1 (they did not mention anxiety but i did talk a lot about being "restless/anxious") guess that goes along with having bipolar.

That is good to know. Because i was having panic attacks. It lasteted a month one in a while i still get them. But it is mostley when i really get upset and when hubbey leaves for work. .....

I think an anxiety attack is not as full blown as a panic attack. It seems that the physical symptoms of a panic attack are more heightened to the point where that fight or flight instinct really kicks in. At least that's what this one books claims. It's called The Anxiety/Phobia Workbook, I think.

Personally, the only time I get panic attacks now is while driving on the highway. I've tried many times to get over it, but now I just avoid them altogther.

I agree--IMHO panic attacks are worse and I associate them with a feeling of impending doom or certain death.

I think I have anxiety attacks. My heart races, my breathing gets shallow and I feel...well...anxious. I'm aware that it's happening and sometimes try to talk myself down or do a form of meditation to try to calm myself. Usually nothing works, but I feel a bit better that I'm at least TRYING to stop it.

My attacks (whatever they are) sneak up on me; a lot of times I'm not even sure why I'm having one. That said, I also have them in very stressful or scary situations.

BTW--I can't do highway driving anymore either.