Panic at following three points (5)
I believe the answer is:
sweat
'panic' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both states of affairs as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'at following three points' is the wordplay.
'following' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'three points' becomes 'swe' ().
'at' after 'swe' is 'SWEAT'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for sweat that I've seen before include "Male perspiration?" , "Trouble in Australia" , "Toil" , "Perspire" , "Salty fluid secreted by the body" .)