panic attack

[ikilledadragon]

What is a panic attack? When I get ready to talk in class my heart starts beating really fast in anticipation. But I don't start sweating and faint. Is that considered a panic attack?

[alankay]

No but it is anxiety to some degree and possibly Social Anxiety. But this is not unusual for many people.
A panic attack is the full blown "fight or flight response", very intense, scary, intolerable and pretty much impossible to just ignore. Raw fear. They are often situational but not always. A panic reaction for really no reason that a person has built up to by worry, stress or psychological conflict. Sorry for the crude definition. Alankay

[n1ck13]

Everyone suffers differently, different triggers, different symptoms. But there are usually a few common symptoms like rapid heart rate, light headedness etc etc you will know the difference between general anxiety and a full blown panic attack when it happens :/ scary shit!

[AnxietyInstituteSA]

I think the fact that you are questioning if you have been experiencing panic attacks tells me you probably haven't. Although the symtoms may vary some from person to person, you would certainly know it, if you had one. A panic attack is extremely intense, usually short-lived (under 10 minutes), terrifying for many, and can be debilitating.

It sounds like you may be experinecing anxiety that is situation specific, which can also be upsetting and damaging to one's life (espcially when experienced chronically). You should get checked out by a mental health professional for further information.

www.anxietyinstitutesa.com