What Is a Panic Attack? What About an Anxiety Attack — Do They Really Exist?

If you’ve ever felt your heart pounding, your breathing quicken, or a sense of impending doom take over, you may have wondered what on earth was happening to you. Many people describe these moments as “anxiety attacks” or “panic attacks”, but there’s often confusion about what those terms really mean.

Do they actually exist — and if so, what’s the difference between them?

The truth about the terminology

In professional psychological and medical language, “panic attack” is a recognised term. It refers to a sudden, intense episode of fear or discomfort that peaks within minutes.

Common symptoms include:

• A racing heart or chest pain
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Trembling or sweating
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• A fear of losing control or dying

It’s a very real and frightening experience — but importantly, it isn’t dangerous. Your body is reacting as though there’s an immediate threat, even when there isn’t one.

The phrase “anxiety attack”, however, isn’t a recognised clinical term. You won’t find it in diagnostic manuals or medical literature. That doesn’t mean people don’t experience something that feels like an “attack” of anxiety — they absolutely do — but what’s happening physiologically is a more gradual build-up of anxious feelings, rather than the sudden surge that defines a panic attack.

What’s actually happening in the body?

When you feel anxious, your body’s fight, flight, or freeze system activates. Adrenaline and cortisol — your stress hormones — are released to help you deal with danger.

Your heart beats faster to pump blood to your muscles, your breathing quickens to supply oxygen, and digestion slows down because survival takes priority.

In everyday anxiety, this system is running quietly in the background. You might feel tense, restless, or unable to switch off. These sensations can build over time.

A panic attack, on the other hand, is when that same system suddenly floods your body with stress hormones — as if a tiger has just walked into the room. You might be sitting quietly or even asleep when it happens. Because there’s no clear reason for the reaction, your mind can panic about the sensations themselves, creating a frightening cycle.

Why understanding the difference matters

Many people tell me they’ve had an “anxiety attack” when what they describe fits the pattern of a panic attack. The difference isn’t about labelling — it’s about understanding.

Knowing what’s happening inside your body can make these experiences feel less mysterious and more manageable. When we call something an “attack”, it can sound as if it’s coming out of nowhere and we’re powerless against it. In reality, anxiety and panic are both responses — your body’s way of saying, “Something doesn’t feel safe right now.”

That “something” might be external, like a stressful event, or internal, such as a thought, memory, or emotion.

Managing anxiety and panic

If you experience panic attacks, learning about how they work is often the first step in reducing their power. Grounding techniques, slow breathing, and relaxation practices can help to calm your nervous system in the moment.

If anxiety feels like a constant companion, it can help to notice the early signs — racing thoughts, poor sleep, muscle tension. Paying attention to these cues with curiosity rather than judgement can stop them from escalating.

A compassionate perspective

Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, panic, or both, neither means you’re weak or “going mad”. These are simply signs of a system that’s working overtime to keep you safe.

In counselling, I help clients explore what might be driving that sense of threat and find ways to reconnect with calm, safety, and confidence.

Both anxiety and panic are deeply human experiences — not something to be ashamed of, but something to be understood.

If this resonates with you

If you’d like support in understanding or managing anxiety or panic, you’re very welcome to get in touch with me at Vanessa Halliwell Counselling in Haslemere or Farnham.

Together, we can explore what’s happening beneath the surface, so you can begin to feel calmer, safer, and more in control of your life again.