Panic attack vs anxiety attack
The terms ‘panic attack’ and ‘anxiety attack’ are often used interchangeably. However, there are some key differences between the two that we’ll explore here.
What's the difference between a panic attack and an anxiety attack?
While panic attacks and anxiety attacks certainly share a number of symptoms, there are also some key features that make them distinct from one another. In summary, the main differences between panic attacks and anxiety attacks are related to two key areas:
- The intensity of the symptoms – panic attack symptoms tend to be much more intense and severe than anxiety attack symptoms
- The length of time the main symptoms occur over – panic attacks tend to start abruptly and finish quickly (usually peaking after around 10 minutes). Anxiety can build and persist for months on end
Join our expert psychiatrist, Priory's Dr Victoria Chamorro, as she discusses the key differences between a panic attack and an anxiety attack, and how you'd know which you were experiencing.
What would an anxiety attack feel like?
The term ‘anxiety attack’ isn't formally acknowledged as a mental health diagnosis, although it’s widely recognised that anxiety is a common symptom of many psychiatric disorders and a core component of anxiety disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and phobias.
Anxiety is usually felt in response to a situation that feels threatening or stressful. It tends to build for a while, with symptoms sometimes persisting for months at a time. Anxiety can range in severity from mild to severe; some people are characterised as having ‘high functioning anxiety’ which means they tend to feel anxious most of the time but are still able to go about their daily lives fairly effectively.
The symptoms of anxiety include:
- Apprehension, worry and dread
- Feeling distressed
- Being restless and unable to sit still
- Disturbed sleep
- Irritability
What does a panic attack feel like?
Panic attacks usually happen out of the blue with no clear triggers. Some people even experience panic attacks in the middle of the night, waking them from sleep. However, for some people, panic attacks may be ‘expected’ because the panic is linked to a known stimuli, for example, a phobia. Having a panic attack can also cause you to worry that you’ll have another attack which can lead to avoidance behaviours.
However, unlike anxiety, the symptoms of panic attacks are always more severe in nature. They’re usually associated with a range of distressing symptoms that disrupt a person's ability to cope or even think clearly. In addition, physical symptoms, such as chest pain, breathing difficulties, hyperventilating and heart palpitations, tend to be much more intense in a panic attack than in someone experiencing anxiety.
The features of a panic attack include:
- Comes on very abruptly and sometimes with no clear warning/triggers
- Feeling as though you’re dying, going crazy or losing control
- A sense of detachment from your body (depersonalisation) or detachment from the world around you (derealisation)
- Physical symptoms that are much more intense than those experienced as part of anxiety
Similarities between a panic attack and an anxiety attack
There are a number of symptoms that are associated with both anxiety and panic attacks, albeit with differences in the severity, onset and duration of these symptoms. These include:
- Feelings of fear
- Increased heart rate
- Heart palpitations
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath and breathing difficulties
- Feeling a tightness in the throat, making you feel as though you might choke
- Sweating
- Hot flushes and/or chills
- Dry mouth
- Shaking or trembling
- Tingling or numbness in your body (paraesthesia)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Stomach ache and/or abdominal discomfort
- Feeling faint and dizzy
- Headache
Diagnosis and treatment for anxiety and panic attacks
Fundamentally, anxiety and panic attacks are distinct conditions but both can have an incredibly negative impact on people who struggle with them. At Priory, we can offer specialist anxiety treatment and evidence-based treatment for panic attacks, helping you to get back on track.
If you think you may be experiencing anxiety or panic attacks, it’s really important to reach out for professional support. You could make an appointment to see your GP in the first instance. They'll be able to assess your symptoms and refer you for specialist mental health treatment, if appropriate. Alternatively, you may wish to contact a private provider, such as Priory, directly. We’ll be able to arrange for you to have an assessment with one of our world-class psychiatrists who will be able to diagnose your anxiety or panic attacks, and work with you to formulate an effective treatment plan.
We can offer a number of different treatment programmes for mental health at Priory, including inpatient treatment, outpatient and day care treatment and online therapy, depending on your individual needs. We also offer a wide range of evidence-based therapy types to treat anxiety and panic attacks, which can take place on a one-to-one basis or as part of a group. The most common therapeutic techniques that are used for these conditions are cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy.
It’s important to understand that you don’t have to suffer with anxiety and panic attacks. Effective treatment can help you to overcome your symptoms, develop an understanding of why you feel the way you do, and support you every step of the way towards recovery.
