You might hear people say they had a panic attack — and this very well could be the case. But there's also a chance that what they're really referring to is an anxiety attack. The terms are often used interchangeably, but there are marked differences that may be useful for accuracy, clarity, and proper mental health care.
To help you distinguish between the two, we asked mental health professionals how to tell a panic attack apart from an anxiety attack (and what to do about both). If you're unsure if you had (or are having) a panic attack or an anxiety attack, see their advice below. Amanda Spray , PhD, ABPP, is a psychologist and clinical associate professor at New York University's Grossman School of Medicine.
Vania Manipod , DO, is a psychiatrist and chief medical officer for the Murror app . Anxiety Attacks Versus Panic Attacks According to Amanda Spray, PhD, ABPP, anxiety attacks are what we frequently see in media and pop culture. One major difference between panic and anxiety attacks is that — while panic attacks are in the DSM-5 (what mental health professionals use to diagnose conditions) — anxiety attacks are not.
This doesn't make anxiety any less legitimate; it just means anxiety attacks are not technically diagnosable. Vania Manipod, DO, adds that many of her patients use the term "anxiety attack" interchangeably with "panic attack," but anxiety attacks are often not as severe. Dr.
Manipod says anxiety attacks tend to dissipate, and usually don't interfere.
