Is this a panic attack?

Although anxiety can be a precursor for a panic attack, they are separate experiences with distinguishable symptoms.

As the name suggests, a ‘panic attack’ is when it feels as though we are suddenly assaulted by our symptoms. Panic attacks are intense and brief in nature and are surprisingly convincing that we are about to die.

This is terrifying.

Panic attack symptoms can vary from person to person but are very much a visceral experience and hyperventilating and heart palpitations are the most common features.

It is incredibly difficult to think during a panic attack because the physical symptoms have gripped us. There is a sense of immediate relief when the panic attack stops, and normal functioning can resume although there may still be a sense of ‘what the hell was that?’.

Because of the intensity of the physical symptoms, we can become highly avoidant of the place where the panic attack occurred as we become fearful that the place will set off another attack.

Anxiety on the other hand can be with us for some time (days, weeks, months, years) and can change between feeling mildly anxious up to severely anxious. We can feel severely anxious without ever experiencing a panic attack.

Anxiety has physical symptoms in common with panic attacks such as shortness of breath, sweating, and stomach problems but anxiety also occupies the mind – we can become full of worry and anxious thoughts – which in turn impacts things like our appetite, sex drive, and sleep.

Avoidance can also play out with anxiety as we’re uncertain that we’ll be able to cope with the situation.

Here are some of the key differences in symptoms between panic attacks and anxiety:

The term ‘anxiety attack’ also gets used in the media and in conversation however this is not recognised from a clinical perspective; it’s either a panic attack or a form of anxiety.

Knowing the difference can help you to understand what it is your experiencing which can support you in dealing with the root of the problem. A therapist can help you with this if you’d like to delve a little deeper or learn coping strategies.