I had a very difficult night. I almost went to the emergency room. At one point the physical symptoms were so bad I was afraid of a heart attack.

I was telling a friend - who knows I am bipolar - about this early this morning and she reacted by saying "I had an anxiety attack too. I was worried my daughter might cry when she slipped and fell." Effing really? I could have kicked her. I was so utterly shocked with her reaction and I can't believe she would have even suggested that what she felt even approached that of an anxiety attack. I feel so devalued.

I was irate - and I may have lost a friend but I told her how hurt and disappointed I was in her. "When it happened," I asked, "Did you feel in physical jeopardy? Were you afraid you might die?"

I came across this today. I think it really important to differentiate intense worry from the clinical definition of an anxiety attack.

"Anxiety attacks are a combination of physical and mental symptoms that are intense and overwhelming. The anxiety is more than just regular nervousness. The anxiety is often a feeling of immense, impending doom that makes many people feel they're about to die, or that everything around them is breaking down."

[*Laurie*]

It is so frustrating when someone compares their painful experience to ours. That said, it sounds like your friend really did feel frightened about what happened. It's REALLY hard sometimes, but I try my best not to compare my pain with someone else's.

I just see the term bandied about so often - even here - and it makes me wonder how many are actually aware of the extremity and definition of the event.

Marking the deliniation that differentiates an attack from another level of extreme amxiety I believe is important.

Sure it is nice that terms regarding mental health like anxiety and depression have entered the lexicon of society but without an understanding of what these things actually mean I think it almost pointless. My friend is case in point. Her equating a fleeting worried thought (I do acknowledge she was worried) with that of being convinced one's life was about to end was insulting.

The problem is that such terms have become part of the lexicon and are both over and (even by ourselves) misued. It is really important then that we ourselves make the differentiation.

[*Laurie*]

Yes, I know. The only thing we can do (short of just being quiet and fuming) is to educate others. Your friend seems to have no idea of how 'anxiety attack' and 'slight concern' differ.