I think most of us have experienced both of these unpleasant things. They only become a real problem when they completely take over your life.
If I asked the question "have you ever been in a situation where your brain has turned to mush and you couldn't make even the most straightforward decision," I bet the answer from most people would be yes. You may well have been unable to physically move. That to me is a panic attack.
It's slightly more than being in a situation you don't feel comfortable with. I think that happens to all of us as well. A panic attack is one level up from that. It's when you can't cope with a situation at all. You watch as others cope with much worse situations but you just can't. You are almost frozen to the ground, or it certainly feels like it.
To me there are two distinctive types of panic attacks. The first is the dangerous one and has no apparent reason. You just feel you are in a position where you cannot function and almost become immobile as mentioned above. The other kind of panic attack is caused by a temporary situation that sorts itself out and in other words is driven by outside influences.
I think I've only had two panic attacks in my life. I have had plenty of other occasions where I have felt ill at ease but the two panic attacks both involved driving. I have never enjoyed driving for driving's sake. I know that many people love getting behind the wheel of a car but I don't. Having said that I have driven in many countries throughout the world including New Zealand, Spain, France and many many more.
My two panic attacks came in the USA. The first was when we were staying close to Baltimore. We drove to Arlington Cemetery where many famous Americans are buried and there's an eternal flame in memory of John F Kennedy.
It came time to leave the cemetery and return to our temporary home. This meant picking up a major road known as the Washington/Baltimore Beltway. We had a map to help us get onto this (this was in the days well before sat nav). The map helpfully had plenty of letter Ms printed on it. My other threequarters started to follow these believing that they were Metro stations. So off we set and it soon became evident we were heading in the wrong direction and going straight into the middle of Washington on a six line highway at rush hour. We had no idea how to get off the road and turn round.
Then we realised the Ms were actually MacDonald Restaurants and not Metros. We had a fast food map! We eventually did negotiate our way out and I had to stop at a rest area and throw up. This was definitely a panic attack brought on by not being able to cope with a situation which caused excessive stress.
The other panic attack was very similar. We drove into Philadelphia in heavy traffic and got to a parking lot. Much as I tried I couldn't get a very large car into one of the spaces and I just froze. I couldn't go forwards, I couldn't go backwards. Thankfully a parking attendant was on hand to help me. Another panic attack.
Burnout is different. For me it slowly crawls up on you over a period of time but the ultimate feeling is the same as a panic attack. Burnout is a build-up of things that culminate once again in a feeling of not being able to cope with situations.
I almost think that burnout is a natural response to something due to time. Over the years I have been involved in numerous voluntary groups and organisations and eventually I have suffered burn out. It usually happens over many years. You start with huge enthusiasm but gradually this wains until it all becomes too much for you. I know of many people that become involved in groups, throw themselves into them with huge amounts of energy and then lose interest in a short period of time. That isn't burnout. Burnout is when you have been involved in something for so long that you no longer feel you have the energy and wish to carry on. And often you can't understand why somebody who follows you i a role has so much enthusiasm for it. That's simply because they are bright eyed and bushy tailed and new.
It's also happened a couple of times in my professional life and it's a very draining and unpleasant experience where you feel you just can't give your best to any situation and in modern parlance you are simply going through the motions. This is no good for you or the organisation you are representing.
It is probably right that projects have a shelf life for individuals otherwise our country would be run by people without energy who are just going through the motions (ok who said that's exactly what is happening?).
I would be very interested to hear from any of my readers who have suffered panic attacks and/or burnout. I'm sure that this post will produce some comments and strike a chord with many.