Is it possible for someone with anxiety disorder to have never experienced a panic attack?
20 Answers
Last Updated: 02/23/2021 at 6:54pm
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Melissa Strauss, LPC
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I am client focused and believe everyone has a strength. I feel confident in seeing clients with generalized and social anxiety, depression and relational goals.
Top Rated Answers
It's very possible for someone with an anxiety disorder to never experience a panic attack. Symptoms of anxiety manifest differently in different people. An person's anxiety is no less real because they don't experience panic attacks.
Anonymous
April 8th, 2019 4:21am
Certainly possible! It depends on what you would define as a panic attack as well. Personally, I have never experienced a panic attack that I could not breathe or was shaking and rocking. However, I have sweated profusely, had light shakes within my fingers and hands, felt overwhelming fear, and was nauseous. Typically, that is not what my mind would usually correlate with a panic attack. But, they are in fact symptoms of them. Even if you do not experience those, it is still possible to have anxiety without ever experiencing a panic attack. Anxiety on its own is challenging to deal with and I am sorry that you have to. Be proud of yourself for reaching out :)
Yes. You can have many physical symptoms of anxiety without ever having a panic attack. Often, many people with a social anxiety disorder will never experience a panic attack. Some of us with anxiety, if we every have panic attacks, they might only crop up once a year but others can have them nearly every single day. It varies on the spectrum for different people, as anxiety feels different in each individual one of us.
Anonymous
June 19th, 2017 9:13pm
Absolutely! Some feel anxiety different and more intensely than others. Just because you have not experienced a full blown panic attack doesn't mean you dont have anxiety disorder and experience anxeity
Anonymous
January 30th, 2017 11:28am
It is possible because we take our anxiety disorders differently. Some may have panic attacks, the others really get nervous and can't stop worrying. But still you need to be careful because you may get one someday.
Yes. Anxiety disorder can look like lots of different things. People might feel dizzy, have a pounding heart or feel like they want to run away, but they might never have labeled this as a panic attack.
Absolutely. Panic attacks are just one of many different types of symptoms associated with anxiety disorders, and one person's experience with anxiety does not dictate the validity or experience of another's. While having an anxiety disorder can increase your risk of experiencing panic attacks, and aside from overlaps in general and defining symptoms of anxiety disorder, your experience is unique to you, as are your specific needs in coping with it. Great question! I hope I was able to provide an adequate answer and that you found this to be helpful. Please note that this is not meant to be taken as medical advice.
Anonymous
January 11th, 2021 3:51pm
While some people with an anxiety disorder may also experience panic attacks they are not always a part of anxiety. Anxiety disorders come in many different types (generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, panic disorder, etc.), and how anxiety manifests for each person is different. So it is very possible to have an anxiety disorder without ever experiencing panic attacks.
Also an important note, often times the terms panic attack and anxiety attack are used interchangeably but they are actually different things. I have personally experienced both, but panic attacks are not a typical feature of my anxiety disorder.
That said not all anxiety is due to an anxiety disorder, and any official diagnosis is best left to professionals, but 'not having panic attacks' wouldn't exclude someone from being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, aside from panic disorder specifically.
Yes absolutely! Panic attacks are not required for anxiety. I myself have anxiety and I've only had one panic attack. My symptoms are usually racing heart, tightness in my chest, negative thought loops, rumination, insomnia, isolation, etc. And there are other symptoms you could have as well! 7 Cups has a really helpful anxiety guide that I would check out. It includes symptoms so you can check to see if you have any that match up. It also has tips to help manage anxiety, like mindfulness and different techniques to change your thinking. You could always reach out to a therapist too!
Anonymous
June 25th, 2019 4:44am
I believe so, maybe its just starting or sometimes they haven't been triggered enough to experience a panic attack.
you can feel the symptoms, the pressure, the overall anxiety without an official attack.
Anonymous
July 10th, 2018 7:58pm
Yes, not all people with anxiety disorders experience full-blown panic attacks. It would be necessary to diagnose Panic Disorder but not every kind of anxiety disorder involves panic attacks.
Anonymous
July 2nd, 2018 1:29pm
Yes, it is always possible. Anyone can have a panic attack, you don't need anxiety to have it. It also doesn't *have to* mean you have an anxiety disorder, sometimes panic attacks just happen to healthy individuals. :)
Yes, because everyone has different types of anxiety. It works differently for everyone.............
In short yes. Anxiety is not always a package deal. You could just get the nerves or the anxiety. Or you could find yourself with rapid heart rate and sweating.
Yes, it is possible for someone with anxiety disorder to have never experienced a panic attack. It is because anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobias, PTSD, OCD, panic disorder etc. Each type includes varying/overlapping symptoms and fall under a single category known as anxiety disorder. Besides, not everyone experiences anxiety the same way, it differs from person to person.
Anonymous
August 28th, 2017 3:46am
Yes. I have GAD, and I have never experienced a full blown panic attack. Instead, I get fidgety, really irritable, and I have trouble focusing on tasks. I try to take some time to meditate and focus on my breathing to help.
Anonymous
August 19th, 2017 4:52am
Yes, this is possible. Panic attacks can be a very painful factor of anxiety disorders, but whether or not a person gets one depends on themselves and their own specific situation. Everyone handles things differently, and so anxiety manifests itself differently in every person suffering from it.
Yes! Panic disorder (which is characterized by panic attacks) is just one kind of anxiety disorder. You can have generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, phobia, etc. Having a panic attack is not a required symptoms to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.
Absolutely! Symptoms of anxiety are different for everyone and can be bought on by different circumstances. Common symptoms can include feeling anxious or uncomfortable, a feeling of needing to escape, freezing, having mental blanks, difficulty breathing, heart palpitations, dizziness, chest pains ect. There is some useful information on this sight in regards to anxiety under self help guides. I hope this information has helped :)
Yes, I do believe so. Anxiety attacks are similar to panic attacks, but they do have their differences.
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