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

Panic attacks are distinctive. They are all consuming. Tony Stark thought he had been poisoned when he had a panic attack. Not to be little what you are freaking out about, but panic attacks are more.

Perhaps looking up the symptoms and knowing the difference, because these are very different things also they could be classed as the same thing.

A panic attack is likely to have physical manifestations - sweating, shaking etc. This, in my experience, is what separates a panic attack from simply freaking out or worrying about something. A panic attack will give you real fear as it's a scary thing to happen. But they will subside.

Everyone has different symptoms of having a panic attack, some people have racing hearts, pains, puking, and some others may just sweat and get sick. Like for me, I sweat, feel really hot and my stomach turns a lot and I start to feel really sick. But usually if you don't have much serious symptoms but feeling really emotional then I know I'm just freaking out.

Panic attacks have very visceral symptoms. this means they have a significant set of body based symptoms. sweaty palms, racing heart, light headedness, seeing stars,

the main symptoms for a panic attack is usually an increased heartbeat, sweaty, nausea, fast breathing/hyperventilating

A panic attack is a very physical experience. Often, your fingers and hands will feel very tingly and numb, you may feel shaky, breathless and faint and dizzy. Sometimes people can feel like they're falling. If you feel like this, I recommend removing yourself from wherever you are by going for a gentle walk, preferably in the fresh air. Drinking water and eating something sugary like a chocolate bar can help with the physical symptoms.

If you're having a true panic attack most the time you will have heavy breathing, to where you feel as if an elephant is on your chest. It feels like you can fill your lungs up enough. It's scary. Your hands get cold. Most the time whenever I have one I cry really hard too, and can't stop moving my hands and ball up.

Panic attacks usually (not always) come with physical symptoms such as racing heart, shallow breathing or difficulty breathing. However, I've had both - I started with physical symptoms and they stopped and moved to purely emotional symptoms - worrying I was going to go crazy, not wanting to go out in public and stay at home for example (agoraphobia), scared that you're going to embarrass yourself in public places, you worry/panic about everything even if it isn't logical. Panic attacks can last minutes or even hours, but know that NOTHING is going to happen to you & whilst horribly uncomfortable, they will NOT kill you or make you "go crazy".

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