Nervous Breakdown vs Panic Attack: How to Spot the Difference

A “nervous breakdown” is not a medical diagnosis, it’s a term used to describe a mental health crisis. This kind of mental health crisis typically involves severe symptoms of diagnosable mental health conditions, like anxiety or depression, and is extremely difficult to manage.

A mental health crisis is often caused by overwhelming, acute stress. Examples of stressors include loss, like a divorce or the death of a loved one. In other cases, this could be caused by a “perfect storm” of smaller stresses acting together, like work, family, and community responsibilities.

A mental health crisis of this magnitude results in a complete lack of functioning and an inability to complete important day-to-day activities. Things like eating, bathing, and even holding a conversation can take all of your energy. If something like this happens with no apparent cause, it could indicate the onset of a serious mental health condition.

Regardless of what this looks like for you or your loved one, a mental health crisis is not something to be ashamed of. When you’re living with a mental health condition, triggers and other stressful life events often cause your symptoms to get worse. Working with a mental health professional to develop strong coping skills can help you manage severe symptoms when they occur.

The symptoms of a mental health crisis vary depending on the person and the underlying cause of the crisis.

Common symptoms of a mental health crisis include:

• Neglecting personal hygiene
• Withdrawing from friends and family
• Emotional outbursts
• Severe fatigue
• Intense mood swings
• Trouble concentrating
• Changes in appetite
• Frequent missed appointments or other responsibilities

In certain cases, severe symptoms like hallucinations (seeing, feeling, or hearing things that aren’t there) and paranoia (believing that someone or something is out to get them), occur during a mental health crisis. People in crisis can also experience thoughts of self-harm, as well as suicidal or homicidal ideation. Anyone who’s thinking about hurting themselves or someone else should get medical help immediately.

When you experience a severe breakdown in your mental health, a mental health professional will work with you to determine the appropriate diagnosis. A trained psychologist or psychiatrist will discuss your medical history and current symptoms. They will compare these symptoms and their context to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), to determine what diagnosis best fits your experiences.

A panic attack is a sudden but temporary fear response to a nonthreatening situation. During a panic attack, feelings of fear are accompanied by an intense physical reaction. You feel like you’re being choked or smothered, like you’re going to die, or like you’re going to lose control of your body. You could also experience feeling disconnected from yourself and your surroundings during a panic attack.

Other symptoms of a panic attack include:

• Racing heart
• Chest pains
• Difficulty breathing
• Chills
• Nausea
• Headaches
• Sweating
• Trembling or shaking
• Tingling or numbness in extremities

Panic attacks typically do not last more than 5 to 20 minutes, although they can last as long as an hour. Panic attacks are not life-threatening. In the worst-case scenario, your symptoms will cause you to pass out. Regardless, they’re still deeply frightening to experience and harm your quality of life.

In most cases, panic attacks are triggered by a person, place, or thing that you’re deeply afraid of. These attacks are often sudden and come on quickly. Panic attacks often occur as part of a panic disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They can also occur as part of anxiety or depression. Some people experience individual panic attacks without having a wider-reaching condition

There are several similarities between a panic attack and a mental health crisis. In fact, you could experience panic attacks as part of a wider breakdown in your mental health. Having a panic attack in a public setting, such as at work or school, can be embarrassing and lead to worsening mental health outcomes.

Both conditions typically arise as part of a larger mental health condition. For example, depression and anxiety can cause both a mental health crisis and a panic attack. While a panic disorder is commonly associated with panic attacks, it can also cause a more significant collapse of functioning.

If you witness your loved one have a panic attack or breakdown in mental health, both can be frightening. Both can be difficult to identify for people who have never seen one before, which is why doing research like this is so important.

There are key differences you can use to tell the difference between a mental health crisis and a panic attack. For one thing, a panic attack is a diagnosable condition, whereas a “nervous breakdown” is not. A panic attack is a short-lived event. If you’re not with someone while they have one, you likely won’t know about it unless they tell you. A mental health crisis, on the other hand, typically lasts longer and won’t necessarily end on its own.

Thankfully, both a mental health crisis and panic attacks are manageable with the right treatment options. Understanding how to manage your symptoms is key to dealing with either of these conditions.

Managing a “Nervous Breakdown”

Developing coping skills is a fundamental part of learning to manage a mental health crisis. In cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), you’ll work with a therapist to understand the relationship between your thoughts, feelings, and actions. You’ll learn to identify unhelpful thought patterns and find a healthier way to respond to the way they make you feel. Developing life skills and tactics for self-care when you have very little energy can also help you function better when you’re overwhelmed.

If you’re concerned that someone in your life is having a mental health crisis, try to start a conversation. Talk to them about the concerning things you’re seeing and ask what you can do to help. Listen to them and make it clear that you are there to help, not judge.

Managing a Panic Attack

CBT can also be a useful tool for people with panic attacks. In CBT, you will work with a therapist to identify your triggers and develop strategies for staying calm when they happen.

Sometimes, panic attacks can’t be prevented. When you feel a panic attack happening, try to stay grounded in the moment. Consider identifying things you can feel, touch, see, and smell to remind you that you are safe.

If someone you love is having a panic attack, it is important to stay calm. Talk to them in short, simple sentences. Gently reassure them that their panic attack is temporary and that they’re in a safe place. Ask them what they need and help them stay focused on their breathing.