Health Anxiety vs Panic Disorder: Key Differences & Similarities

Key Differences

Excessive worry
Health Anxiety: Core
Panic Disorder: Common
Explanation: In health anxiety, worry tends to be a persistent focus, while in panic disorder it is more likely to rise around panic episodes or fear of them.
Panic attacks
Health Anxiety: Common
Panic Disorder: Core
Explanation: Panic attacks can happen in both, but in panic disorder they are the central problem rather than one part of broader health-related fear.
Seeking constant reassurance
Health Anxiety: Core
Panic Disorder: Common
Explanation: Health anxiety more often involves repeatedly checking or asking for reassurance about health concerns, while panic disorder reassurance-seeking is more tied to episodes of acute fear.
Overthinking
Health Anxiety: Core
Panic Disorder: Common
Explanation: In health anxiety, overthinking is more likely to feel ongoing and health-focused, whereas in panic disorder it is more likely to come in waves around feared panic sensations.
Avoiding situations or responsibilities
Health Anxiety: Common
Panic Disorder: Core
Explanation: Avoidance in panic disorder is more likely to become a central pattern of avoiding places or activities where panic might occur, while in health anxiety it is less central and more situation-specific.

Key Similarities

Symptom How it is similar
Feeling emotionally overwhelmed Both can involve episodes of feeling flooded by anxiety and unable to settle easily in the moment.
Heart racing or pounding Both can involve noticeable surges of heartbeat that feel alarming and can intensify fear.
Shortness of breath Both can involve episodes of breathlessness that may feel frightening or hard to interpret.
Difficulty falling asleep Both can make it harder to fall asleep when anxiety keeps the body or mind activated.
Muscle tension Both can show up as physical tension that reflects the body staying in a stressed or anxious state.

Most often taken Self-Assessments

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