How do I know if I'm really having a panic attack or if I'm just freaking out?

For me personally, panic attacks are always accompanied by a rash on my legs and painful diarrhea. Freaking out is an accelerated heart rate and shortness of breath.

Hey there. Well from reading up the general full blown panic attack symptoms are hyperventilating, your heart racing, chest pains or discomfort, shaking or trembling, feels like you are choking, and everything around you feels unreal. A freak out is less violent symptoms (such as the shaking is not as bad, next to no chest pain, ect) and the main difference is when you freak out, things seem a bit faster around you and have almost if i can use the term a "adrenalin" rush. To have more clearance i suggest looking up some of the symptoms and try keeping a logical mind about your analysis of your symptoms. We tend to misdiagnose when we feel like we have a certain symptom when we actually don't. Hope this can clarify a bit for you :).

Panic attacks are very similar to freaking out, however they usually have quite distinct symptoms. It's usually a form of EXTREME fear or anxiety. So in a way, a panic attack is freaking out, just more severe. It'd differ from each individual, but usual symptoms are dizziness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, a feeling of choking or suffocating, hyperventilation, a tingling sensation in certain body parts and sweating. You wouldn't be able to think of anything else except the dread during a panic attack. It think that's how you know. If you're just freaking out, you may have some of these symptoms, but you'd still be able to think.

You will know if you are having a panic attack. You wont be able to breathe and you feel as if you are having a heart attack. Your whole world will feel as if it's closing in on you and it can last quite a few minutes.

A panic attack is a very acute experience. Being stressed is one thing, and being overwhelmed is another. A panic attack, as it is colloquially called, is an experience where a person is so overcome with anxiety that they are often debilitated, and often they feel that they may die. If you are having a panic attack, you may notice shortness of breath, numbness, stabbing chest pains, tingling in your limbs, and you may feel you are not able to stand. Some people cry while having a panic attack, as well. It is when you are so overcome with dread that you feel that you may die, but take comfort in knowing that most panic attacks do not last long. If you suffer from panic attacks, know that there is help. They often accompany a panic disorder, anxiety disorder, or conditions such as PTSD. Speak to your doctor about your experiences, and you may wish to seek therapy in order to work on early-detection (so you can "nip it in the bud" when it occurs) and coping skills for when the next one arises. Panic attacks are a serious medical issue, but there is help out there for you. If you feel you are in imminent danger of hurting yourself, someone else, or that you may die during an attack, please seek help from a professional on a hotline, or get yourself to a hospital, if accessible.

your heart raises high then normal and u have pain in chest sometimes and somtimes feel nausea and vomiting

Panic attacks usually give a very physical response, unlike just freaking out over things. Usually people suffer with irregular breathing or hyperventilate during an attack, as well as shiver/shake, get hot/cold flushes, have a rapid heart rate and even get pins and needles in their hands and feet.

You feel hopeless, your heart is running really fast, you're struggling breathing, you're mind is running extremely fast and you feel that the room is moving. That's panic!

Panic attacks come in all shapes and sizes, the same as anxiety in general. The only way to determine the difference is how you feel in the situation. http://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/attacks/how-to-tell I hope this helps and i wish you the best of luck :)

I have had my first panic attack just over a month ago. It was a horrible experience. I was just watching television with my roommates when suddenly my heart raced and I had difficulty breathing. I felt like I was going to die or the world was going to end. It was an irrational fear because it came out of nowhere. I just really felt like something really bad is going to happen and I can't do anything about it. I guess the distinction between a panic attack and merely freaking out is that panic attacks last longer, maybe about 5 to 10 minutes or more and panic attacks give you an uncontrollable feeling of doom while freaking out usually comes out during a specific experience or out of stress.

Usually in a panic attack, you may experience heat flashes or pins and needles. You'll also did it more difficult to calm yourself down (stabilise your breathing) than you would if you were just freaking out. Typically, when just freaking out you won't have a particularly significant struggle with breathing.

A panic attach IS freaking out, it's really, really extreme freaking out when you feel like you're having a heart attack and can't breathe. It can be both.

The symptoms are different from just freaking out or having a panic attack. The symptoms for a panic attack are: "Racing" heart. Feeling weak, faint, or dizzy. Tingling or numbness in the hands and fingers. Sense of terror, or impending doom or death. Feeling sweaty or having chills. Chest pains. Breathing difficulties. Feeling a loss of control.

For me, whenever I have a panic attack it feels like my chest is tightening and I can't breathe. And then my skin feels like when your legs "fall asleep." Sometimes I can come out of them, sometimes I pass out.

Panic attacks are generally very sudden and last for about no longer then ten minutes. Depending on the severity of the attack it can cause dizziness, trouble breathing, shaking, or pain.

If you are having a panic attack, the tightness in your chest, inability to breathe normally and the shooting pains in your arm will mimick a heart attack. Generally when you "freak out" it's mostly hyperventilation.

There are a few ways to tell the difference. Freaking out may not feel as severe as a panic attack. A panic attack may feel like a heart attack or a complete loss of breath. They are both very sudden, but you should react slightly different to each.

Panic attacks are more severe, and they generally happen more regularly. If you regularly find yourself freaking out about small things, you may have some issues with anxiety. Symptoms of panic attacks include sweating, heart racing, feeling disconnected from yourself and difficulty breathing. If you are experiencing these things regularly, it's worth checking out anxiety resources online and possibly talking to a professional.

A panic attack is a lot more serious than just "freaking out". Freaking out may make you feel really irritated but a panic attack comes with a lot of physical symptoms like sweating, nausea, light headness, racing heart etc. When I had one, I couldn't stand and was pretty scared. It's very different.

Panic attacks are easily identified by their physical symptoms like hyperventilation and shaking hands.

Panic attacks often feature more serious physical symptoms than just freaking out (i.e., high anxiety). For example, panic attacks frequently involve racing heart beats, hyperventilation, and tingling or numbness either localized or throughout the body, Additionally, panic attacks are accompanied by thoughts of impending doom (e.g., "I'm dying" or "Something terrible is about to happen).

From my experience, it depends on the situation. If you're able to quickly get out of the panic by taking deep breaths, you are probably just freaking out. But if you're really anxious and it takes you a while to calm down, that is most likely a panic attack. Remember that we are all different. During panic attacks, I love to drink tea, write, blog or sleep (if I can). This is very different for each and every one of us. Try and figure out what helps you find your breath and focus on calming down. You're so great and you can do it, xx.

Freaking out its just wen you cant control yourself about something, panic attack its worst, you really feel that you are dying, you feel terrifying about something that you dont even know and you cant explain to no one.

For me the difference is so noticeable , I start to become light sensitive, sweat, struggle to breathe ...There can be palpitations nausea and sometimes even vomiting. I don't know about other people that's just from my experiences x 💛

Well what you describe can simply be the same thing as "freaking out" is often a panic attack. Each panic attack is different and they can be stronger or weaker depending on situations so its likely you're experiencing minor panic attacks.

Heart palpitations that you can feel through your chest, tightness within your chest, sweating, breathing problems, difficulty concentrating and dizziness are usually associated with a panic attack as well as in some cases a lack of motor control.

Freak out moments, that I know, unleash freedom to live. Generalized panic attacks is medically induced; seeking help in which best suits you gives you the answers you need.

I believe the difference is basically on the fact that not only the feelings are very very extreme, but also affects your physical state.

Panic attacks are much, much different than simply freaking out. Panic attacks can make you out of control. They make you feel nauseous and make it hard to breathe or think. Often times, panic attacks can be reoccurring as well.

When you have a panic attack your breathing goes a lot faster, as well as your heart beat. You have the feeling that you've just run a mile and you're really overthinking thigns