Panic attack or no?

[Babygurly22]

Does anybody know what the shmptoms are of a panic attack or how to know if you are having or had one? I've been extremely depressed lately to the point where i cry over anything and everything. Its really starting to affect my entire life. I was upset before and starting crying (dont want to talk about why) but i was sitting on the bed and my fiance was outside working on his car. I kept crying and i started to get really dizzy and having trouble breathing and starting rocking back and forth (i didnt realize i was doing this until almost 20 mins after i started). Does anybody know if this was just a reaction to me being upset or if this was a panic attack. My fiance came in a few mins later and started hugging me and just telling me to relax and within a few minutes i was fine again. Can anybody help me?

[nursegirl6572]

Maddie explained a panic attack very well. What you experienced sounds like maybe a milder panic attack, or just perhaps some severe anxiety related to you being upset.  Panic attacks can vary in severity, butm like maddie said, they typically stop you in your tracks, and another pretty common characteristic of a panic attack is they tend to come "out of the blue", when you are just going about your day.

Keep an eye on it, if it starts occuring more frequently, you may want to seek some help, as they can spiral out of control pretty fast.  Let's hope it was just a moment where your stress overwhelmed you.

Hang in there, we're always here for you!

[Babygurly22]

Ok thank you so much. I wasnt sure if it was or what to do, it really scared me and i dont think my fiance knew what to do either at the time but within a few mins of him coming in i was fine.

[4Maddie44]

I think a lot of people who have depression suffer panic attacks.  I have read of instances where people feel so bad, they think they are dying, and go to hospital.

Panic attacks are overwhelming.  They stop you in your tracks.  Whether what you felt was one, I do not know.  As you say, it could be that you were very upset at that time.  

I have gone into a shop, and suddenly I cannot move, and a feeling of doom comes over me.  Heart races so fast, and start crying.  I have to get out of there pronto.  Usually a panic attack comes on where you feel you cannot cope with a situation and must flee from it.  Like me trying to shop.

I've done the rocking back and forth bit too.  Went to doctor about it.  Told it was part of my depression.

Possibly your episode was because of the situation at the time.