Panic vs. Concern
This is written for both parents and young adults; not one group specifically. A lot of the families I’ve worked with over the years have a hard time differentiating between the two, and harnessing the panic or concern when it arises. So, let’s break down the difference first so you can then follow up on management or diffusing later.
Panic is an intense, sudden feeling of overwhelming fear or anxiety. It’s often accompanied by physical symptoms like a racing heart, shortness of breath, sweating, and can sometimes lead to irrational actions. It’s when you are suddenly feeling like you are completely out of control. It can be triggered by situations, events, or can occur unexpectedly. It can even wake you up out of a deep sleep. The intensity is described with deep emotional distress, and physical discomfort. When we think about “panic attacks” it can be potentially mistaken for a heart attack, or can just wipe someone out physically or mentally until they’re calm and returned to a normal heartrate. Without proper support, it can often lead to avoidance, especially with young adults.
Concern, on the other hand, is a feeling of worry or unease about a particular situation or problem. It’s could be triggered by a specific event or a perceived problem, or it could be lingering for awhile. The intensity will range between mild-to-moderate, and always less intense than panic. While concern can cause stress, it may actually fall in the eustress category. Either way, this doesn’t disrupt your daily life to the extent that panic does. While concern can be a normal response to uncertainty or potential threats, panic is an extreme and often debilitating reaction to a real or perceived threat or danger.
Pretty much every young adult I work with has constant concern about their future because of the economy, job market, politics, environmental concerns, finding love, human rights, healthcare access, and another pandemic. For parents your concerns can be focused on the same, but sometimes it also spills over to having concerns about your child or children’s futures. These is just a few pressing issues, not all-encompassing. It feels like most folks are riddled with concern. Concern is something that can be addressed with scaffolding and support. Unfortunately, parents can address the discomfort brought on by concern in their child by enabling and removing those discomforts. Let’s hit pause on that. When it becomes panic we are in the territory of exposure therapy and medication management in an effort to manage the panic. Neither of these are to be ignored.
For questions or comments contact Joanna.
