Full blown panic attacks for me is that feeling of barely missing a head on collision. You are okay, but that feeling is there and you don't know why. Anxiety is the anticipation of that head on that you know is coming, just hasn't yet.
I will say, though, for me, I'm not nearly as anxious now, sober, than I was when I was drinking. I though back then that alcohol helped my anxious feeling. Not true, it made it worse. I see that now. And I can't think of one panic attack I've had in the past 6 months of sobriety.