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Firstly lets's get the definition of an anxiety attack and a panic attack right.

A panic attack is an instant, intense surge of fear that hits the peak within a few minutes. It may occur unexpectedly and is often accompanied by a faster heart rate, difficulty in breathing, dizziness, excessive sweating and a sense of things going out of control. These episodes may last between 5 to 15 minutes. But, the effects might remain for a longer duration.

Anxiety attack is a term that is used to refer to a period of high anxiety or worry. It is largely associated with a perceived threat or a situation and it develops gradually. It could also be associated with Generalized Anxiety Disorder or Social Anxiety Disorder. It is accompanied by excessive worry, lack of control, tension in muscles, restlessness. An anxiety attack lasts longer compared to a panic attack. It might last for anywhere between 2 hours to several days.

Differences

While panic attacks and anxiety attacks have similarities in terms of certain physical symptoms, emotional undercurrent and the impact on a person, in reality, these are different in a lot of ways which are explained below.

Occurrence and Duration:

• Panic attacks occur suddenly without any warning and the peak intensity is reached within a few minutes of the attack.
• Anxiety attacks occur in response to a stressful situation. Eg: An examination / Job interview etc, and it lasts longer and builds up gradually.

Triggers:

• Panic attacks may not have any triggers. It results in the patient having the fear of the next attack.
• Anxiety attacks occur due to specific stressors - An event, a deadline, a social event etc.

Symptoms and Intensity:

• In case of a panic attack, the symptoms are extremely intense. The patients might feel completely out of control. They might feel like having a heart attack.
• Anxiety attacks don’t have high intensity. It happens gradually over a period of time. But, anxiety attack lasts longer compared to a panic attack.

Mental Health Associations:

• Panic attack are mostly associated with Panic Disorder. But, they can occur otherwise as well.
• Anxiety attacks are mostly related to generalized anxiety disorder or anxiety provoking conditions.

Now that you understand the core differences between a panic attack and an anxiety attack, I hope you are empowered to handle it more effectively. If you know someone who is suffering from anxiety or panic attacks, it is important that they seek the help of a mental health professional who is capable of offering the best treatment for anxiety / panic attacks. In today’s world, with platforms like practo in place, finding out the best doctors of anxiety treatment or treatment of panic attacks should not be a challenge.