There is no specific duration as to how long do anxiety attacks last. Signs and symptoms as well as treatment may vary according to the afflicted person’s coping abilities. Being a most common symptom of physical and mental disorders, anxiety attacks have less to do with the timing of the occurrence. It can happen before the person’s experience of the unpleasant emotional situation, continue on after the experience, or even be triggered without an exact stimuli. Anxiety may be manifested by sudden outbursts, or may endure for several minutes in gradual levels lasting to several hours or days or to some, even years. However, anxiety, if untreated may persist for several years.
Even physicians have no exact data as to how long do anxiety attacks last. In General Anxiety Disorders (GAD) the occurrence may begin in childhood or adolescence, or may occur at any age. As the threat of this anxiety is on a per-situation basis like work-related stress, family problems and financial difficulties, persons with GAD may experience the symptom at any time the problems arise, and may continue up until the problem is resolved.
For people with Panic Attacks of Panic Disorders, symptoms happen in spontaneous attacks usually triggered by a physical encounter, such as that a person with fear of being confined in a small room may have panic attacks when they ride the elevators. It may last until the person is removed from the cause of the anxiety.
In Phobic Disorders, anxiety is experienced even before the situation or the physical threat is encountered. It may gradually disappear with proper treatment over the years, particularly with exposure therapy.
In Acute Stress Disorders, anxiety may last until the time the patient is dissociated from the cause of the trauma, preferably guided by a psychotherapist. In Post-traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD), clinical treatment may only be lessen the gravity of the anxiety but rarely disappear. It may start several months after the encounter of the traumatic event or may endure to several years even with professional guidance.
