Panic is the body's automatic response to fear or a threatening situation. It comes from the sympathetic nervous system. We sense danger and our bodies prepare for fight or flight. Panic is often be connected to a trauma that has occurred earlier in a person's life. With anxiety, we experience feelings of nervousness or worry.
Most people experience some anxiety at some time.
It is a signal that tells us we are in new life-territory and unsure, or that keeps us alert and on our toes as we perform a risky or dangerous task. However, if a person has a high level of anxiety most of the time for no apparent reason, it becomes a problem. Often, people who experience frequent panic attacks also begin to experience a great deal of anxiety, too. In fact, the anxiety is often about whether or not the panic will occur. As with depression, a combination of therapy and medication can be effective in the treatment of anxiety.