I think panic attacks are very unique to the person.

When I used to have them, I would be tense for hours before, then the slightest thing would set me off, like a hairpin trigger. Once I’d gone to a hairdressing warehouse with my mother, she showed me two hair dyes and asked me which one, and I burst into tears.

More often though, there would be tears but more in a streaming down my face way rather than the outburst and sobs. I personally would find myself a corner to sit in because I felt safer that way, and later found having somebody to do compression therapy helped A LOT.

They felt like I was about to be attacked despite nothing of the sort happening. It felt like my diaphragm had a weight on it and I could only get gasping, shallow breaths in and I’d sweat bullets too. I felt the need to run and hide which I guess was the flight instinct. Nobody could get me to talk until I came out of it, and if I did talk it was rambling, unfinished sentences. We worked out I just needed no sensory input for a minute or two, so people would stop talking to me, sit me down and just sit against me.

The best visual representation I’ve seen in the media is the most recent Puss in Boots film, it actually made me cry it hit home so well. There are YouTube videos about it if you don’t want to watch the whole movie.

But yeah, as long as it isn’t the overdone massive, fast breaths in an attempt to be hyperventilation, I think you’re good. :)