If I can't stop thinking about killing myself during a panic attack or think that I'm dying, does that mean I actually want to kill myself unconsciously or is it something else?

I do not believe that this is the result of an unconscious desire to kill yourself. It could be the result of your panic attacks, and your mind expressing its desire to be free from the pain and suffering of the panic attack. I think that unconsciously, you want to live a healthy life. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here chatting with us ;-)

It does not. I is just a coping mechanism for yourself to handle the extreme anxiety, it is not a sign of actually hoping to die, instead even the thought of the anxiety going away, even in the most drastic way, can help you overcome the attack.

Having those thoughts during panic attacks is your reaction to the panic. You're body is reacting to all the stimuli - real or imagined. This can trick your mind into thinking that you're dying - but panic attacks are not dangerous and you will get past it. Wanting to kill yourself during a panic attack can simply be another response to overwhelming stimuli - you see it as a way to make it stop. If you ever have these thoughts or feelings persistently please seek help at suicide.org.

I don't think it means you want to kill yourself. I think it means you want relief from the panic attack, and dying at the time, seems like an easy way of achieving this. Panic attacks are awful, they can be so overwhelming and can feel like your mind and body are being taken over by fear. I often worry that i will die during a panic attack. But these feelings subside, as does the feeling of fear. Try focussing on your breathing and relaxation tequniques and if you feel like you actually do want to kill yourself, please call a suicide helpline first. Don't worry and take care :)

That's a good question- each person has different experiences with panic attacks. For instance, when I am having a panic attack I think I'm suffocating- I think I actually am dying. I think the first step in figuring out what thoughts are real and which are part of our demons is to ask ourselves if the thought is logical. Was I in a situation where I would not have air? Was there air in the room? Certainly I had access to oxygen- and for some illogical reason I was worked up about something. It's ok if you don't know why the panic attack occurred. Just begin to focus on why you act like you do, and how you would react to the action if you weren't having that attack.

No. That's just your anxiety eating at you. Everyone has probably considered suicide at one point or another as just a random thought if nothing else.

My mom had a panic attack when I was little, and she went to the hospital because she thought it was a heart attack. Panic attacks have really scary physical symptoms, so it's common to think you're dying when you're having one. I've never heard of someone being unconsciously suicidal, so it's probably just the fear talking. You should still tell a doctor, though.

Reaching out to a licensed therapist or psychiatrist is the best decision I made when I had those thoughts that just really concerned me. Together we worked through understanding where they were coming from and if the thought itself was my true feeling or if it was a response to another emotion that I was not understanding. Taking an active role and participating in my treatment plan changed my life. I think the first step towards a healthy balance is asking yourself the question of is this self-harm how I really feel or is it something else and knowing that you want to move forward with getting those answers.

It can be a natural reaction to feel like that during a panic attack as you often feel like you can't breathe and you're suffocating, it can mean absolutely nothing and is a feeling that will pass.

It's common to feel as though you're dying during a panic attack, it's a very distressing experience. It's important to understand what is normal occurrence during panic attacks. It can be really hard to know that you're in no danger during a panic attack, though panic attacks are very good at convincing you otherwise. It's important to try not to struggle against the panic attack, that often only adds more stress. I know it's a worrying time, but remember that just because you're worried doesn't mean you're in danger. What can a panic attack actually do to you? Frighten you. It can't kill you. They fill you with such fear and anxiety that you believe you're actually in danger. The most dangerous thing about a panic attack is not seeking help after you experience one. It can impede your life by making you phobic, and develop ongoing fears about having further attacks. Please seek help if you ever experience an attack, they don't have to control your life.