I've never really understood what panic attacks are and I really don't know if I get them.

Like, I know it involves increased breathing and muscle tenseness and sweating, but I only sometimes notice that some muscles are tensing (or flexing, isn't it the same thing?). Like is a panic attack where you feel even more anxiety than normal? Like I think right now I'm having a panic attack, but I really don't know.

I'm unable to sleep, and I seem to have a bunch of energy (in a bad way, I just can't sleep cause I'm feeling anxiety), like sometimes I pace without realizing it, pacing helps me think and calm down.

Like, this feeling I'm having is what I felt like all summer the last summer. I hate it. Something really good, or really bad is supposed to happen this week. And I have a bad feeling it will consume my thoughts cause that's what usually happens. I get very little sleep and I just worry and feel anxious, especially when something good or bad will happen this week.

So is this what a panic attack is like? Like this feeling I'm feeling is a bit different from my other anxiety moments, this is a lot stronger.

I just wanna ask my dr for something like Xanax so I could use it on an as needed basis, but I don't wanna sound like I'm some drug dealer or druggie cause I'm not. I just want fast relief for these strong anxiety episodes. So how can I do this?