For the past several days, Ive been experiencing periods of shortness of breath, fatigue and general soreness.
On any normal occasion, Id dismiss this as part of mygeneralized anxiety disorder.
Is that shortness of breath an anxiety attack, or the onset of the virus?
If it was just one symptom of coronavirus that would be one thing, butthree?
And if I have this question, other people probably do too.
Panic attacks can occur without warning.
They are sudden and can happen at any time or place,Dr.
Zlatin Ivanov, a psychiatrist practicing in New York City tells Lifehacker.
Its a laypersons term for a panic attack.
Unlike panic attacks, the symptoms of anxiety can stick around for extended periods of time.
For example, sometimes Ill have a rough few hours thanks to heightened anxiety.
Other times, its a constant, gnawing feeling that can last for weeks or months at a time.
Anxiety, panic attack or COVID-19 symptoms?
OK, lets break this down.
If youre hearing some overlap with anxiety and panic attack symptoms, youre not wrong.
Shortness of breath from COVID-19 and a [panic] attack can present exactly the same,Dr.
Dion Metzger, a psychiatrist practicing in Atlanta, Georgia tells Lifehacker.
This is what makes it tricky.
Here are a few other factors that will help you figure out what to do next.
Do you have other symptoms?
Besides the shortness of breath, coronavirus symptoms are also severe cough and fever, he explains.
They may appear anywhere between two and 14 days after exposure.
Whereas the COVID-19 symptoms should also include severe dry cough and fever.
The virus affects the lungs and respiratory ways.
The anxiety has an effect on the whole body.
(More on that in a minute.)
Do you typically experience anxiety and/or panic attacks?
Do you have shortness of breath, but dont feel particularly anxious?
Most people with shortness of breath due to anxiety will tell you they are anxious.
When a symptom is medically caused, there wouldnt be much relief seen with anxiety-reducing techniques.
Is anything helping your shortness of breath?
When should you seek medical attention?
The ER is one of the most high-risk places you’re able to go to during this pandemic.
You also dont want to take beds or space away from other patients who need them more.
That is the only way to know for sure, he says.
Their primary care doctor should let them know if this is possible.
If they feel they are having a medical emergency, they should go to the ER or call 911.
There are medications that can help relieve this anxiety for this uncertain time were in right now.
This is the time to hit the emergency button and reach out to your doctor for some relief.
Again, telehealth options here are preferable.
Everything is hard out there right now.
And if youre someone experiencing more anxiety or depression than normal, know that you definitely are not alone.
