Difference Between an Anxiety Attack and a Panic Attack

“What’s anxiety?” a high school football player once asked me during a talk on mental health that I was giving to his team. A few of his teammates snickered, but I was actually really glad he asked because I was certain that someone else probably had the same question.

As I looked into the crowd of teenagers, I thought back to when I was growing up and would go to school with stomach aches and desperately wanting to hide. I’m certain anxiety plagued me back then, but I didn’t have a clue what it was and so I just dealt with how I felt hoping that somehow during the day I’d eventually feel better. Plus, I’ve always had this weird coupling of leadership qualities that meant that I would push through my problems so that I could help others. (Go figure, right?) 

I shared with the team that anxiety can actually feel different to different people because there are a variety of symptoms but generally it’s intense fear or worry that can manifest physically, emotionally, or mentally. Sometimes, anxiety is due to a particular event (like taking a difficult test or playing in an important game), or sometimes it’s a lingering issue that may be defined by a doctor as a disorder.

Then last week, I was asked a different question that I had a harder time answering. “Coach, what’s the difference between an anxiety attack and a panic attack?”

I paused for a moment.

Again, I thought back to my own experiences. I haven’t had many panic attacks, although there was one last year and another one recently that both caught me by surprise, and both felt a little different.

“Well, I really don’t know the difference to be honest,” I replied.

I’m sensitive to the fact that anxiety is experienced differently by different people. Not everyone has the exact same list of symptoms. I decided to do some research.

So, what’s the difference between a panic attack and an anxiety attack?

The answer might surprise you.

Anxiety attacks are really not a medical condition, but rather a term that some people use interchangeably with panic attacks. While anxiety can feel intense, overwhelming, and heavy, the feelings of dread, worry, or fear may linger for a significant period of time. Panic attacks, on the other hand, usually happen suddenly and without warning and are short-lived. On average, they last for a few minutes up to 10 minutes (although some sources say they can last up to 20 minutes). They also have different symptoms.

Characteristics of a panic attack include at least four of the following: 

• Rapid heart rate or palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Feeling of choking
• Sweating or chills
• Shaking
• Chest discomfort
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, or faintness
• Nausea
• Overwhelming fear
• Fear of dying
• Numbness or tingling
• Feeling detached or unreality

Now, as always, I like to remind everyone that I’m not a doctor.  As stated in the disclaimer, the information here is for informational purposes only. If you feel like anxiety and/or panic attacks are an issue for you or a loved one, please seek medical treatment.

Keys to the game:

• Mental health struggles like anxiety are common. Educate yourself on the signs. Better yet, speak up if something just isn’t feeling right.
• Listen to your emotions and your body. All that energy has to go somewhere.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You’re not alone in how you feel.
• Learn stress and emotional management techniques through working with coaches, taking classes, or with the help of a medical professional.

Would you like to access stress management tools so you can get ahead of the game? Join the Athlete Mental Wellness Club.

Sources:

hollowc2. (2020, September 14). Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/are-anxiety-attacks-and-panic-attacks-the-same-thing/.

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2018, May 4). Panic attacks and panic disorder. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/panic-attacks/symptoms-causes/syc-20376021.