What symptoms make it a panic attack?

I’ve been in therapy now for a little while and a question that periodically comes up is, “Do you have panic attacks?” I always say no and explain, that I never go to the hospital with the thought that I am dying sort of thing. After reading some of the other posts though, it is coming to my attention that a panic attack doesn’t have to mean you are on your death bed. What do others think what a panic attack is because maybe I do fall into this category. Maybe I do have panic attacks, I always felt like my symptoms were so severe that I learned to live with them, so that the symptoms have lessened, but the feelings are still intense, if that makes any sense? During one of my episodes, my heart will beat faster, I feel it skip a beat as well, I get hot and sweaty, but dry mouth, I feel faint and nauseous, my thoughts race, I can’t meet eye contact without my head getting all spastic on me. But I never considered all of this a panic attack because it has never sent me to the emergency room. What do other people consider a panic attack to be, I am interested in your thoughts.

I have only ever had one ambulance put to me due to panic attacks and I didn't go to hospital. That was the first ever panic attack I had. I suffer with panic attacks often and the symptoms can vary from person to person. The thinking that it dying isn't only just with a panic attack that's what people with anxiety suffer with usually all the time. Doesn't have to be during a panic attack.

When I panic and when people I know with anxiety panic, this symptoms are quite like it having a heart attack.

If u look up fight or flight response all about the sympathetic and parasymoathetic nervous system u will see what it's like to have a panic attack.

Usual symptoms are - shallow quick breathing, tight chest, pains in chest, breathlessness, sweating, shaking, faint feeling, needing to go to the toilet suddenly, light headedness/dizziness, disorientation, a weird feeling unable to describe, feeling u might die, racing heart and pulse, feeling like it heart is going to beat out of your chest, nausea or vomiting and people have other symptoms that other don't like I have weird feelings in my ears and whooshing in my head. Some feel as though blood I as rushing through them especially their chest.

Hope that helped.

Kez

I didn't class mine as panic attacks either, but the doctors don't think the extremity of the physical symptoms are what matters. I go very, very still, tense some parts of me - say half the fingers on one hand, I almost stop breathing, and sometimes get very teary. In my head I am completely stuck in a panic loop, wanting to be left alone, to be somewhere else, to the point where I cannot interact. I don't get racing heartbeat, sweats or much else, but my brain is full-on trying to stop a physical attack by freezing like a rabbit in the headlights.

It took me a long time to recognize my anxiety and how my anxiety actually dominates me. You'd think it'd be obvious but it isn't. I guess it's too deeply rooted in us, blended into so many parts of our thoughts and life, it's difficult to separate those tiny little roots and understand that they are anxiety. I have benefited from taking time to develop more self awareness and only now I am confounded as to "How in the HELL have I always denied having anxiety??!"

Panic attacks have various ranges of intensities, you cannot say that there is just ONE demonstration of an attack. The "heart attack, I am going to DIE" panic attacks likely get the most attention because that is what brings people to the hospital. Doctor's love to believe that panic only lasts for half and hour, and perhaps the more intense ones do (your adrenal glands can only take it for so long, I guess), but they look over the less-dramatic but ongoing despairing anxiety that can last hours hours and hours. I still consider those attacks.

Anxiety also arrives in and endless list of symptoms, making it more difficult to expose. You simply can't try and match your experience with some stereotypical portrayal, no one ever has it the same. Psychiatrists try to give EXACT descriptions within the diagnosis manual and that gives the misconception that mental illnesses and anxiety are highly specific.

Unfortunately, the 'heart attack' version of the story is what kept me from believing I was having anxiety attacks. For that reason, the crying, shaking, nauseous, hiding in the bathroom fits I had I initially attributed to depression! I thought, I'm crying uncontrollably, it's depression! All my worries I attributed to depression. I let myself be convinced that my fears were reasonable. So, it's not an anxiety disorder, right?. (And that is why anxiety can lurk undetected, you believe in the credibility of your fears)

Even the first panic attacks I experienced about twice a year for a couple of years (until they lead up into an on going, frequent struggle), I just thought I ate something bad! I was throwing up, so hot and sweaty for a time. I didn't even panic at the sudden onset of disturbing symptoms to the point of thinking I will die. I thought I was having miserable food poisoning. It seems to obvious in retrospect!

When I think "I'm going to die" I am thinking more along the lines of "One day I'm gonna die." But really, even when I am worried about death I am not laying on the floor wishing I could kiss everyone good-bye and that my time is truly over. I never ever think I'm having a heart attack. My heart races and pounds but for some reason is not a trigger of mine. (Suffocating, however, the feeling may make me go nutty enough to think I will pass out.)

Any time where anxiety spikes to an extremely uncomfortable level, I consider that an attack. It's not PANIC, but it is anxiety, y'know? Most of the time I am fending off "limited symptom attacks." What you are describing sounds like a panic attack. It is an extreme elevation in fear and fear doesn't have to mean "I'M DYING" or "HEART....ATTACK....UGGH".



Yes, sounds like panic.

Agree with you there. A lot of the time people dont see a panic attack in someone. I have almost one every day n not all of them are the symptoms of im dying n having a heart attack etc. Many people dont see that people that suffer with severe anxiety are panicking almost as t all the time. Mine never goes from the moment I wake to the moment I sleep. I try hard to keep my panic attacks contained because i believe many are sick of seeing me in a distressed mess. I do still have full blown panic attacks where it almost makes me pass out. But many people who suffer with anxiety and panic attacks are misdiagnosed or pushed aside just because they don't have a full blown panic attack. Took me many months to finally be diagnosed with a severe panic disorder ontop of all other mental issues I have.

One day hopefully we will be better. Just takes a lot of strength and a constant fight with yourself everyday but hopefully we will all get there.

Not every panic attack will send you to the ER. Most won't. When I was a teen, I remember having my heart tested, wondering about all those things that could be what I now realize is a heart palpitation. Feels like a skipped beat.

Shiver, chills, tensed body, shortness of breath, heart skipping, can't remember the last time with nausea, sometimes I've had lower back pain, because I've dealt with them, at work and my body is just so tense, that it aches.

It's more than just emotions involved, anxiety can be legitimately physical in nature, regardless of if there is some noticeable trigger or not.

And sometimes, meds help, and sometimes, they 'sort of' help. Wish I could say it's a matter of 'calm down', can get the mind to be calm, and the emotions sorted, doesn't help the physical reaction.

I am not convinced I'd ever be 'recovered' from anxiety. Depression, yes, anxiety no. Insomnia, is a no to recovered, as well, for me.

I was literally going to post the same thing until I saw your post first 5678scream. I am always asked this question by my doc but have always said no. I was diagnosed with GAD but never thought I had panic attacks because I never felt that I was going to die. I have problems with being able to breathe, dizziness, and sweating but I never felt out of control. Mine can last for a good 30 minutes or more but I just thought that it was anxiety, not an actual panic attack. I'm still not entirely sure it's not just anxiety but I've had enough and plan on talking to my doc about it. Good luck with yours!

I'm learning now, that they are different for everyone. I go into this dream like "I've lived this moment before" kind of trance, and then I panic. It's not too much hyperventilation but I become extremely scared, I shake a lot. Sometimes I get sick.

I have had a ton of panic attacks and have never gone to the emergency room. Usually I think I am going crazy, rather than dying. I have many of the same physical symptoms that you have.