Anxiety and panic are words we often hear when people talk about stress or mental health. They are sometimes used as if they mean the same thing, but in medical terms, anxiety disorder and panic disorder are two different conditions.
Both involve fear and worry, but they affect people in different ways, and scientists have studied them carefully to understand how they work and how to treat them.
Anxiety is a normal part of life. Everyone feels anxious sometimes—before a big test, a job interview, or a doctor’s appointment. But for people with an anxiety disorder, that worry doesn’t go away. It sticks around even when there’s no clear reason to be afraid, and it can interfere with daily life.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), one of the most common anxiety conditions, is marked by constant and uncontrollable worry about a wide range of everyday things—work, health, family, and the future. This worry usually builds up gradually and stays over time, lasting for at least six months or longer.
Panic disorder is different. It involves sudden and intense episodes of fear called panic attacks. These attacks come out of nowhere, often without a clear trigger, and can feel overwhelming. A person might suddenly feel their heart racing, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, sweating, or even feel like they are about to die or go crazy.
The physical symptoms are so strong that many people go to the emergency room thinking they’re having a heart attack. But when medical tests show nothing wrong physically, it often turns out to be panic.
Researchers have found that the brain reacts differently in anxiety and panic disorders. In anxiety, the fear response is usually slow and steady, with the brain’s worry system being constantly activated.
In panic disorder, the fear response is fast and sharp, often linked to changes in brain chemicals like norepinephrine and sudden activity in the amygdala, which processes fear. Panic disorder also seems to have a stronger genetic link, meaning it can run in families.
A key difference between the two conditions is timing and intensity. Anxiety builds over time and often has a clear focus or worry behind it, like fear of losing a job or concern about health. Panic attacks are quick, usually peaking within 10 minutes, and can happen without warning. People with panic disorder also begin to fear the panic attacks themselves.
They may avoid places where they’ve had an attack before—like public transport, crowded malls, or even leaving home. This can lead to a related condition called agoraphobia.
Scientists have also looked at how to treat these conditions. Both anxiety and panic disorders respond well to treatments like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps people change unhelpful thought patterns and face their fears.
For panic disorder, CBT often includes exposure therapy, which helps reduce fear by gradually facing situations that trigger panic. Medications such as SSRIs (a type of antidepressant) are commonly used for both disorders, and studies show they can significantly reduce symptoms over time.
Even though anxiety and panic disorders are different, they often overlap. Some people with GAD also experience panic attacks, and vice versa. This is why it’s important to get the right diagnosis from a health professional.
Understanding the difference between the two helps people find the right treatment and feel less confused or afraid about what they’re experiencing.
In simple terms, anxiety is like a slow-burning flame of worry that’s always present, while panic is like a sudden lightning strike of fear. Both are treatable, and with the right support, many people find relief and get their lives back on track.
If you care about depression, please read studies about how dairy foods may influence depression risk, and B vitamins could help prevent depression and anxiety.
For more information about mental health, please see recent studies that ultra-processed foods may make you feel depressed, and extra-virgin olive oil could reduce depression symptoms.
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