Phobia and panic disorder are two distinct yet interconnected phenomenon.it involves intense fear and anxiety. we try to difference between them by using their definitions, symptoms, causes and treatments.
Define phobia:
phobias are intense fear of activities, special objects or situations. They are considered as anxiety disorder which leads to avoidance behavior that can disrupt daily life.
For examples: fear of height which is also known as acrophobia, fear of spiders, fear of flying also known as aviophobia. Phobias cause immediate anxiety due to feared objects or situations.
Define Panic disorder:
on the other hand, panic disorder involves unexpected panic attacks due to anxiety or fear.it s a sudden episode of intense fear which can also cause death of a person. These attacks can be terrifying which leads to human death. this can also contribute to the development of agoraphobia which is called fear of places or situations where escape might be difficult.
Symptoms:
Symptoms are given below; they exhibit different disorders;
Phobias: symptoms occur due to specific phobic stimulus. They can include sweating, trembling, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath.
These symptoms are focused on the feared objects or situations.
panic disorder: these symptoms include intense feeling of terror, palpitations, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, dizziness, feelings of detachment from oneself.
Panic attack can occur unexpectedly. Residual symptoms may peruse longer.
causes:
Causes of phobias and panic disorder can involve genetic, biological and environmental factors.
Phobias; these can develop through direct experience
For example;
traumatic event involving the feared object, indirect learning.
Panic disorder: biological factors such as genetics. abnormalities in brain function, environmental factors can also contribute.
Diagnosis:
Both phobia and panic disorder is dynodes based on criteria outlined in the diagnostic and statistical manual of entail disorder.
phobias: diagnosis involves a fear that is excessive causing significant distress or impairment in social areas of functioning.
The fear must be avoided or endured intense anxiety.
Panic disorder: diagnosis required unexpected fear attacks, followed by at least one month of concern worry about the implications of attack or significant change in behavior related to attacks.
Treatment:
Effective treatment for both phobias or panic disorder exists:
Phobias; treatment often includes cognitive behavioral therapy, specifically exposure therapy which gradually and safely confront the fear objects. medications such as meta blockers may be used in this treatment.
Panic disorders, cognitive restructuring and exposure therapy is also effective.
Medications such as selective serotonin reap take inhibitors may be prescribed to reduce symptoms and Prevent panic attacks.
