mild anxiety attack or dysthymia attack?

I am trying to find the correct term to describe a certain experience that occurs for me. I keep wanting to call it an anxiety attack, but thats not right. From what I've read, and those who suffer anxiety attacks please feel free to correct me if I am wrong, they are quite debiliating and scary. My experiences are debilitating but I dont think they are anywhere near that of an anxiety attack.

Allow me to describe one of these experiences in order to better illustrate what I am talking about. Usually, it's triggered by reading or hearing something. I start feeling nervous, my hands get shakier and sometimes start sweating. I sometimes feel like I want to be sick. Sometimes, anger comes in to. I just get overwhelmed by these feelings, that I either have to cry it out, or punch my tackle dummy that I made.

I refer to these experiences often in my journal writing as mild anxiety attacks. But that label doesn't seem to sit right with me. Plus, I dont want to offend someone with my ignorance about anxiety. I wonder if perhaps "dysthymia" attack would be more appropriate since thats what I've been diagnosed with.

I asked my T this same question, and she said to go with whichever works best for me. Sorry if I seem to be rambling, or asking about a tiny detail that really does not need to have such worry put into it.

Hi Dez,
I don't know. I don't know what dysthymia is. Maybe what you're reading or hearing is triggering you.

I like the idea of a tackle dummy. I could use one of those sometimes.
I hope you're not having too many mild anxiety attacks.
(((Dez)))

Hi Dez,

Not all anxiety attacks are debilitating, which is what it sounds like you're having. Generalized Anxiety Disorder is like Dysthymia in the way that it's chronic and not always a full-blown, serious attack.

"The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association, characterizes Dysthymic Disorder as a chronic depression, but with less severity than a major depression.

The essential symptom involves the individual feeling depressed almost daily for at least two years, but without the criteria necessary for a major depression.

Low energy, disturbances in sleep or in appetite, and low self-esteem typically contribute to the clinical picture as well."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysthymia

"Anxiety is a complex combination of negative emotions that includes fear, apprehension and worry, and is often accompanied by physical sensations such as palpitations, nausea, chest pain and/or shortness of breath."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anxiety

Thanks Jax and Petunia.

i suffer from ocd and it sounds like you have panic attacks

Hi carolina,
I have symptoms associated with OCD, too, although I have not been officially diagnosed. I'm seeing a shrink soon, so we'll see what she says. I'm sure I have a little bit of all three (depression, anxiety and ocd).

Good luck at the shrink Dez,

Keep us posted!