I agree, that sounds like a panic attack. When I've had them, I run screaming, begging, please make it stop. I cry, my heart beats fast, I feel like I'm dying and "doomed," like everything's crashing in on me, like the world is ending. Once it's over, I feel spent but still anxious, fearful and nervous, scared of it happening again.

On my last shrink visit, the resident I spoke with asked me to describe a panic attack, because a lot of people mistake anxiety or severe anxiety for panic attacks, and they're very different (although both are terrible). I showed him, very briefly, how I start to freak out, and he said it was enough, he believed me.

Not everyone screams, but I can't not scream during a full-on attack. I once told that to a psychiatrist, and he didn't believe me. He said I could, and it really p***ed me off, because I have tried not to scream, but I couldn't keep from doing it.

Since I'm going off my meds, I'm naturally worried about having panic attacks again--I've had severe anxiety and almost-panic attacks, but haven't had a full-on panic attack in years. I still believe I could, but haven't been in certain situations that are sure to cause them. And don't think I haven't had doubts from time to time, but I really want to try without the meds, and I have had problems with the meds, so I have reason not to stay on them. I realize that, if I go back on them, I'll have to build them up again. Yes, I'm scared, but I really wish people around me would support me.

I'm not trying to hijack this thread. I just wanted to let that out. Hope it's ok. But yes, I think what you had was a panic attack.