Maybe I'm flaunting my ignorance (I'm REALLY good at that.), but I was wondering what criteria you folks use to define a panic attack - as opposed to "anxiety" "anxiety attack" "feeling panicky"...

Last week (I think - time has been a blur lately) I was admitted to the ER for what I knew was going to be a panic attack. I had been holding it down for about three hours before I went in (clinic and urgent care were closed ). While I was there, symptoms continued to escalate, in waves - every 20 to 40 minutes. I tried everything to quell it, to no avail (hence my user name). After about two hours of tests, I recieved 1mg of Lorazepam in the arm. (Aaaahhhh... Finally normal again! After close to six hours of terror.)

The nurses kept referring to my state as a panic attack. I, however, was under the impression that I was just experiencing "pre-panic anxiety" or "that damned panicky feeling". I've always only counted episodes (no, I don't keep score) that end in paralysis and unconsciousness to be a "true" panic attack.

Here's my question (finally). Was I experiencing multiple, discrete panic attacks, or was I merely on my way to one?

Opinions? Experiences? Insight? Help???

I wonder about this myself, Most of the time I think its just high anxiety but sometimes I wonder if its a small panic attack. I have suffered severe anxiety for days that felt like a big panic attack being spread out for months. The way I felt when I had a bad panic attack was like I was going crazy right then and there, I was gonna die or I was gonna do something extreme. I always consider myself not having a panic attack unless i'm extremely freaking out. But I think I have mild ones.

---The nurses kept referring to my state as a panic attack. I, however, was under the impression that I was just experiencing "pre-panic anxiety" or "that damned panicky feeling". -----

I also feel this too and I don't think its a panic attack it feels like i'm about to have a panic attack.

Sounds like to me you were having like little ones, but then again you could have just been on your way to having a really big one.

For me anxiety is feeling scared, apprehensive, what if this happens etc, worrying. But a panic attack is when the intense feelings of not being able to breathe, fear of dying or losing control there&then come upon me very quickly. This is just the way I work out the difference between the two but sure they are _link_ed. I am just letting you know how I classify them and i am no medical expert only an expert in experiencing PA's and anxiety.

for me when I get a panic attack-- I get hit with that " I have to get out of here feeling or I'm going to die or go insane" its a total over whelming " fight or flight experience.--( haven't had one is about 2 months)

anxiety I've been dealing with lately every day-- is more of that bouncing out of my skin feeling with a lot of " what if" thinking.

Hi,

Well, for me I divide the anxiety/panic attack into three groups.

The first group, I have a lot of generalised nervousness and trepidation. When I am like that I can get what I refer to as mini panic attacks which are in the second group. My mini panic comes in waves and I tend to rush around the supermarket to get the shopping done asap but I can generally manage to function.

The third group is the next step up from the mini panic. The good old full on panic attack that totally has me freaking out and I am sure I am going to lose total control of my body and am totally terrified. This is the type where no amount of CBT, breathing and positive thinking helps. I just pop a pill and tell myself I will feel better in about 20 minutes.