Anxiety and Body Reactions
Anticipatory Anxiety
Related expressions · Anxiety that another attack may occur · Feeling afraid in advance
Anticipatory anxiety refers to a state where worry and tension increase before an actual situation occurs, due to the fear that a panic attack or uncomfortable event may happen again.
Reviewed by Korean Medicine Doctor Choi Yeon-seung · Last updated 2026-08-26
Meaning and Distinctions
What is anticipatory anxiety?
It can lead you to constantly check your pulse or avoid traveling and social gatherings even during times when you are not having an attack. Anticipatory anxiety Panic attackrefers to a state where worry and tension increase before an actual situation occurs, due to the fear that a panic attack or an uncomfortable event might happen again.
- Easily confused terms
- Unlike worry that realistically prepares for a risk, we look at whether the fear persists for a long time and whether it restricts your daily activities.
- Why this is checked during medical evaluation
- We check whether the worry and avoidance between attacks have changed, rather than just whether the frequency of attacks has decreased.
- What to write down for your visit
- Please record the places and thoughts that trigger your anxiety, as well as the activities you eventually avoided or gave up on.
Sleep and Mind Glossary
Compare similar terms here
You can check the brief meaning first and then proceed to the detailed explanation.Panic AttackA panic attack is a state where various symptoms, such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath, trembling, and dizziness, rapidly intensify along with sudden, intense fear or discomfort.Avoidance BehaviorAvoidance behavior refers to avoiding places, people, or activities, or becoming unable to do things alone, due to fear of anxiety or panic attacks.AgoraphobiaAgoraphobia is a condition of fearing and avoiding places and situations where one feels it may be difficult to escape or difficult to receive help.
Read More
Check guides where this term is used
- Condition GuidePanic disorderPanic disorder is a condition characterized by unexpected panic attacks followed by a process of changing behavior due to fear of recurrence. While chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, and abdominal discomfort are actual physical symptoms, for new attacks, other causes such as heart, respiratory, or thyroid issues are checked first. Recovery of daily functioning is achieved not just by counting the number of attacks, but by reducing pulse checking, repeated emergency room visits, and avoidance of the subway or driving. Severe chest pain, fainting, neurological symptoms experienced for the first time, or urges for self-harm should not be dismissed as familiar panic.→
- Condition GuideAgoraphobia · Avoidance of going outAgoraphobia is a pattern of avoiding movement not because of the size of a specific place, but due to the fear that it will be difficult to escape or receive help if an attack or difficult situation occurs. This should be distinguished from panic attacks, fear of social evaluation, and the risk of dizziness or fainting, and an actual avoidance map should be created. If the number of attacks decreases but the distance you can travel alone or your dependence on a companion remains the same, record the number of attacks and mobility function separately to reset the next treatment goal. If there is fainting, new neurological symptoms, severe chest pain, or an increased risk of self-harm, a medical safety evaluation takes priority over exposure practice.→
- Medical GuideHow can I distinguish other causes from what feels like a panic attack?A panic attack can involve a rapid increase in symptoms such as throbbing, shortness of breath, trembling, and dizziness, along with sudden intense fear or discomfort. However, first-time chest pain, fainting, symptoms during exercise, or one-sided paralysis are not dismissed as panic. If these recur, record the starting scene, the time it took to reach the peak, and the places you have come to avoid, and then distinguish between physical causes, panic, agoraphobia, and social anxiety in order.→
- Sleep & Mind ColumnWhat do panic disorder, agoraphobia, and social anxiety fear? Differences between the fear of attacks, escape, and evaluation→
Evidence and Update Information
The following materials were referenced to verify the basis and scope of the definitions and treatment explanations.