Anxiety Attack vs. Panic Attack

Overview

Anxiety and panic attacks are similar, but have a few distinct differences. Both can feel frightening, overwhelming, and disruptive, yet they differ in how they begin, how long they last, which symptoms are most pronounced, and how they affect a person’s thoughts and body. Understanding the difference can help people better recognize what they are experiencing, reduce fear about symptoms, and guide them toward the support that will help most.

About 83 million U.S. adults will experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. This includes:

• Panic attacks

• Anxiety (general, phobias, social anxiety, etc.)

• PTSD

What causes anxiety or panic?

Researchers don’t yet know specific causes, but they do see links between certain factors. Neurologists have been able to study brain activity during heightened emotional states, and have identified areas of the brain that play a role in anxiety and panic. In addition to those internal factors, researchers also notice that environmental factors and past experiences tend to affect the likelihood that someone will develop an anxiety disorder.

Brain function. It is theorized that an imbalance in the functioning of the limbic system (including the amygdala) and the prefrontal cortex contributes to disordered anxiety. Specialized psychotherapists use tools aimed at regulating these functions.

Neurotransmitters. It is also theorized that certain chemicals in the brain, like serotonin and norepinephrine, play strong roles in the regulation or dysregulation of fear responses. Medical providers can determine, based on your symptoms and history, if medication (SSRI, SNRI, et.) can help reduce your distressing symptoms.

Family history. If a parent or sibling suffers from an anxiety disorder, you are more likely to develop one, too. This is not a guarantee, though. Most researchers agree that predisposition alone is not a causal factor.

Personal history. A significant number of people who suffer from anxiety and panic disorder have experienced a traumatic event (a singular event, or an extended period of threat and harm). A therapist trained in acute and complex trauma (cPTSD) can incorporate trauma-informed tools into anxiety treatment.

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a state of ongoing mental and physical tension that centers around anticipation—worrying about what might happen, what could go wrong, or what might be beyond your control. It often feels like your mind is constantly scanning for future threats, even when there is no immediate danger present. Someone experiencing anxiety may feel stuck in repetitive thoughts, unable to quiet their mind, and unable to feel settled in the present moment. They may worry about health, relationships, work, finances, responsibilities, or situations that have not happened yet. This worry often feels excessive compared to the actual situation, but that does not make it feel any less real.

One of the hallmarks of an anxiety attack is that it tends to build gradually and linger. It can be present in the background all day, creating a sense of uneasiness that colors everything else. Some people describe it as “always being on edge” or “never being able to relax.” Others describe it as a constant internal tension, as if their body is bracing for something bad to happen. This prolonged state of worry can lead to indecision, avoidance, and self-doubt, and leave a person feeling exhausted.

Physical symptoms of anxiety:

Anxiety also affects the body. While it begins as worry in the mind, it often creates physical symptoms such as:

• muscle tension,

• restlessness,

• fatigue,

• upset stomach,

• headaches,

• increased heart rate, and

• trouble sleeping

These symptoms happen because the body responds to perceived threat—even imagined future threat—by activating the nervous system. The body prepares for danger even when the “danger” may exist only in the person’s thoughts.

Does anxiety get worse at night?

Because anxiety tends to intensify when external distractions quiet down, many people notice it most at night. During the day, responsibilities and stimulation can temporarily keep anxious thoughts in the background. But at night, when the body is supposed to rest, the mind may become louder. Thoughts begin to race, often jumping from one worst-case scenario to another. A person may replay conversations, imagine negative outcomes, question their decisions, or worry about things they cannot control. This can create a cycle where anxiety increases physical arousal—such as a racing heart—which then increases fear, making sleep difficult or impossible.

People often refer to moments of increased anxiety as “anxiety attacks,” but this term is not formally defined in the DSM-5-TR. In everyday language, an “anxiety attack” usually describes a period where anxiety spikes beyond its usual baseline. During this time, worry may become more intense, physical symptoms may increase, and the person may feel emotionally overwhelmed. However, these episodes usually build gradually in connection with a stressor or a buildup of anxious thoughts. They may last for minutes, hours, or even much longer, depending on the situation and the person’s ability to regulate the distress.

How do you treat anxiety?

Psychotherapy (counseling)

Psychotherapy is a form of clinical treatment that addresses distorted thoughts (like catastrophization), repressed or overwhelmed emotions, and destructive or unhealthy behavior.

Exposure therapy is an approach commonly used by psychotherapists to help someone break the cycle of constant avoidance, which often makes anxiety worse. Exposure to fear by talking about worst-case scenarios, reasonable outcomes, and alternative solutions, all within the safe and comfortable space of home or office, can help to retrain the nervous system out of fight-or-flight mode and into a stable and reasonable new normal.

Cognitive therapy. With the skilled guidance of a therapist, a person suffering from anxiety will learn to reorganize their thoughts (cognitions) into more constructive patterns and teach their nervous system how to relax in the absence of threat.

Medication (or medically supervised alternatives)

A medical provider (psychiatric NP, DO, MD) can offer advice about different types of anxiety medications and alternative medical treatments that are shown to greatly improve the distressing symptoms of anxiety attacks. This can be used in combination with psychotherapy to achieve noticeable progress.

What is a panic attack?

A panic attack, on the other hand, is a specific and well-defined experience. Unlike anxiety, which tends to grow slowly, a panic attack comes on suddenly and reaches intense levels very quickly—often within minutes. It is marked by a surge of overwhelming fear or intense physical discomfort that seems to come out of nowhere or feels far greater than the situation warrants. Even when panic attacks happen in response to stress, the intensity of the body’s reaction can feel abrupt and shocking.

Can panic attacks happen at night?

Most panic attacks happen suddenly and during the daytime. Some panic attacks happen during sleep. Nocturnal panic attacks can leave you feeling awake but unable to move your arms or legs, and are also characterized by extreme fear.

Physical symptoms of a panic attack:

The most noticeable feature of a panic attack is the intensity of the physical symptoms. While anxiety often centers on persistent worry, panic often centers on the body suddenly reacting as if it is in immediate danger. During a panic attack, a person may experience:

• a pounding heart,

• sweating,

• trembling,

• shortness of breath,

• chest pain,

• dizziness,

• nausea or sudden urge to go to the bathroom,

• chills,

• numbness,

• or a sensation of choking

These symptoms can be so intense that many people believe they are having a heart attack, passing out, or dying.

Fear and more fear:

Alongside the physical symptoms is an intense wave of fear. A person may feel a sudden terror that something catastrophic is happening right now. They may feel detached from reality, disconnected from themselves, or afraid they are losing control. Because the experience is so physically intense, the fear can escalate quickly. For example, a racing heart may trigger the thought, “Something is wrong with me,” which increases fear, which then makes the heart race faster. This feedback loop amplifies the panic until it peaks.

Although panic attacks feel endless in the moment, the most intense part is usually brief. Symptoms often peak within about three to five minutes, though some episodes can last longer. Afterward, the body may feel drained, shaky, or exhausted as the nervous system begins to settle. Some people continue to feel lingering anxiety for hours because they fear another attack may happen.

How do you treat panic attacks?

If you think you’ve had a panic attack, the best first step is to make an appointment with your medical provider. Because the symptoms can feel a lot like a heart attack or another major medical event, the lingering fear that often follows a panic attack can often be calmed by ruling out all major medical threats. Your medical provider may offer a medication to help calm your panic symptoms, and they will often also suggest psychotherapy.

As mentioned before, psychotherapy (counseling) is a form of clinical treatment that addresses distorted thoughts (like catastrophization), repressed or overwhelmed emotions, and destructive or unhealthy behavior.

A licensed therapist with specialized training in panic attacks or panic disorders can help you break the cycle of fear that often feeds panic attacks. You will learn why your body is responding this way to seemingly nothing, and how to manage your thoughts and actions in a way that will interrupt the next panic attack before it leaves you feeling totally out of control again.

How to calm down quickly:

Breathe to a count of three. “Inhale, one, two, three. Exhale, one, two, three.” Your limbic system (alert/alarm) often changes your breathing pattern when it is activated, causing your breath to become short and shallow. This can lead to lightheadedness and tingling in the feet and hands. By slowing your breathing, you are calming your body, which in turn calms your fear.

Call it a panic attack. Once you know that you’re having a panic attack, and not a medical emergency, you can tell yourself that this is scary, but not harmful. Remind yourself that slowing your breath will have an effect on your physical symptoms, and that the fear will begin to subside soon.

You’re not alone.

Naming the experience correctly can reduce confusion and fear. Both anxiety and panic are real experiences involving the nervous system, emotions, and thought patterns. Neither is “just in your head,” even though thoughts play a major role in both. The body responds to fear—whether that fear builds slowly as anxiety or erupts suddenly as panic. Both can be distressing, disruptive, and exhausting.

The good news is that both anxiety and panic are treatable. Learning how the body responds to fear can make symptoms less frightening. Therapy can help people identify thought patterns that fuel anxiety, learn grounding skills to regulate the body, and reduce fear of panic symptoms.

If you’ve been managing this on your own, consider this your invitation to take the next step. Whether that means scheduling a consultation with a therapist, speaking with your physician about symptoms, or simply learning more about your options—movement matters. You don’t have to keep navigating this alone.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11098410/

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4451-panic-attack-panic-disorder

The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Reading this content does not establish a therapeutic relationship and should not be considered a substitute for professional mental health care, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified provider. Always seek the advice of your physician, therapist, or other licensed healthcare provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical or mental health condition.