Why does it feel like I'm dying whenever a panic attack hits?

Because it gives us to think that we cannot do anything . we just need to panic . and that panic makes us less to think for the thinks that we should have done instead of getting along with panic attack .

When I have a panic attack my heart beat increases significantly, I get dizzy, and my breathing pattern is abnormal. I have even fallen before. It feels that way because a heart rate that high isn't natural. It disrupts the bods natural homeostasis. This is why it feels like you're dying. It's completely normal (or at least based on my experience it's normal).

It's okay, you're not alone. you can make it through a panic attack. try to focus on the good things that you have in your life.

Many symptoms such as the nausea, abdominal discomfort, lightheadedness, and hot and cold flashes are associated with illness, and the quickened heart rate, chest pain, choking sensations, and shortness of breath can be associated with danger.

Your mind is unable to function in such a difficult situation and when you're that upset you often begin suffering from breathing problems, or so you may think, your world will slowly feel likes it's slipping away and hopelessness ensues , but it is simply mind over matter...

your body is reacting to what they call flight or fight and your body does not know what to do in this situation

Panic attacks can have a physical manifestation on your body, depending on the severity, scope and intensity of the situation. Sometimes you will get stomach cramps, lightheadedness, heart-attack and many more. That is why if you have persistent panic attacks, you should see a doctor right away. By the way, a panic attack triggers your flight-or-fight response - this is the part of your brain that gets activated when danger is around, eliciting hormones like cortisol which is associated to stress. With panic attacks, the danger is perceived to be everywhere so your brain and body have physically altered itself because of the panic attack! With a family physician, they can give you a referral to a clinical psychologist who can give you medication and therapy to help better deal with it. It won't go away, but it will be less severe and won't impact your current relationships.

As absurd as it may sound, the "purpose" of a panic attack is to scare you to the point it's impossible for you to ignore the threat. Don't think of it in a contemporary frame, but think of a panic attack as something that acted like a proper alert during our evolutionary process. Panic was there to save you from bears, wolves, calamities. Panic was triggered by something "real". This is how we're wired: nowadays the chances of getting attacked by a bear are quite low if you live in a city, but when something inside you is not balanced, your brain wants to get your attention... the most dramatic way.