002. What’s the Difference Between Panic Attacks and Anxiety Attacks?

What’s the Difference Between Panic Attacks and Anxiety Attacks?



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Written ByShelby House, BSN-RN

Medically Reviewed byAllison Young, MD of American College of Lifestyle Medicine on November 17, 2023



Symptoms of panic and anxiety can be very distressing to those who experience them.

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Are panic attacks and anxiety attacks the same thing?

Not quite, experts say. Although they have some similarities, panic attacks and anxiety attacks are two distinct experiences, says Nicole Erkfitz, LCSW, the executive director of A Mission for Michael Healthcare in McLean, Virginia, a mental health practice that treats anxiety disorders.

But in everyday conversation, some people mistakenly use these terms interchangeably, adds Erkfitz.

“Panic attack” is a clinical term and a symptom that may mean someone has a more serious mental health issue going on, whereas the term “anxiety attack” is often used to describe experiences of anxiety, but it doesn’t necessarily mean someone has a mental health condition.

“What can be genuinely detrimental is the failure to seek appropriate help and support regarding mental health diagnoses and their associated symptoms,” says Erkfitz. “This lack of engagement with mental health resources can have adverse consequences for individuals’ overall well-being and hinder their ability to effectively manage and address mental health challenges.”

That’s why it’s so important to know the differences between the two, their potential health effects, and the treatment options for each.

What Is a Panic Attack?

A panic attack is a swift, sudden, overwhelming physiological and emotional response, says Deborah Serani, PsyD, a psychologist and senior adjunct professor at Adelphi University in Garden City, New York.

“It’s a frightening and uncomfortable mind-body moment that signals a flight-fight-freeze response. Simply stated, the body is flooded with stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, that perch you in a hyperarousal state,” explains Dr. Serani.

Common symptoms of a panic attack, per Cleveland Clinic, include: 

Fast heart rate

Chest pain

Hyperventilation

Trembling

Nausea

Chills

Sweating

Feelings of intense terror

A choking sensation

Fear of a loss of control

Feeling like you might die

Feeling detached from reality (derealization) or from yourself (depersonalization)

“Many children and adults report that a panic attack feels as if they’re going to die. It’s a dreadful and highly unbearable experience,” states Serani.

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Panic attacks are meant to serve as a defensive or protective mechanism; however, there’s often no specific trigger that can be identified, as the person is usually in no real danger, says Erkfitz. 

Panic attacks are the hallmark symptom of panic disorder (an anxiety disorder characterized by regular and recurring panic attacks), but they can also happen alongside other anxiety disorders, such as phobias, as well as alongside mood disorders or trauma-related disorders, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Approximately 11 percent of people in the United States experience a panic attack each year, and up to 3 percent have panic disorder, per Cleveland Clinic.

Although panic attacks are usually accompanied by physical symptoms and can feel very intense, they’re usually not physically harmful to your health, per Cleveland Clinic. However, they can be very detrimental to your mental health and the quality of your life, so it’s important to seek professional help if you think you’re experiencing panic attacks, per Cleveland Clinic.

What Is an Anxiety Attack?

Unlike the term “panic attack,” “anxiety attack” is not a formal clinical term used by health professionals. It’s a colloquial term used to describe feelings of anxiety.

The potential symptoms of anxiety, pe

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