For you, whats the scariest symptom of a panic attack?

When do you guys tend to have your panic attacks? I've only had a few major ones over the past few years but they've all been at night when I'm in bed. Always means I get almost no sleep for the rest of the night and feel horrific the next day. Glad I have Propranolol in the drawer next to my bed, they're crap for general anxiety but an excellent abortive for panic attacks tbf

Anyway, worst bit has got to be the impending feelings of "Oh God, I sort of hope this is another panic attack and not a heart attack or something" Just the feelings of not being able to breathe and my heart thudding against my chest are the worst physical symptoms.

The feeling of not being able to breathe (possibility more so as I'm asthmatic?). I remember the first time it happened to me I was in school and I thought I was seriously ill. I also have them when when I'm about to drift off to sleep and I end up lying awake scared or wake up being really anxious something awful is going to happen.

I've never found a way to stop or ease it, I just let it take over me until its finished and I've somehow calmed down. Mine seem to be caused by lots of different stresses building up, especially related to romantic emotions, so I'm just trying to avoid too many stresses building up and no longer attempting to have some sort of romance in my life. Although I will admit being single is rather lonely and boring! But for now if it works, at least until I sort out other stresses then I guess its worth it to avoid any more attacks.

Can people usually tell when you're having a panic attack? When I get a major one, I start crying and begging for a doctor but I've only ever had them around my mum and bf and they are understanding with panics but if I have a moderate one no one seems to notice, not even my family a lot of the time. I'll say to them after it passes, "sorry if I went quiet. I had a panic" and they seem shocked. Inside I feel like I am screaming but I mostly always manage to control myself on the outside except for a few very major ones but they are rare.

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Mine seem to be caused by stresses building up too as I haven't really learned how to deal with stress there and then and in the moment, I let it build and build until I pretty much go into meltdown -_- I've also found that during a major attack, nothing I do can ease it, I just have to accept it and ride it like a wave pretty much. It always feels like it'll never end and that is what really gets to me.

I have my therapy for OCD tomorrow and I'm hoping it'll help with panics too, shouldn't hurt at least. I'm terrified tbh. I find it hard enough to admit my obsessions and compulsions to myself, yet tomorrow I have to be 100% honest with a stranger about things I know are highly illogical and silly but have taken over my life. I know the first appointment will probably be the hardest though.

I've found I was able to force myself to think about something else, if only for 10-20 seconds at a time, or pinch myself etc to delay it for long enough to get home/somewhere safe, then I just have to let it take over as I just can't keep putting it off. I find I can't hold it off indefinitely, nor can I think of something else for more than 10 or 20 seconds, before I think about what is setting it off again and nearly break down. My heart is racing the whole time and feels like it is pounding through my ribs.

That's exactly what I do too. I hate when my heart pounds like that. I feel like I can feel the pounding in my throat and it makes me feel so sick. I used to panic so much when my heart went into that state but not so much now. I still hate it but it doesn't really scare me as much now. Reading Dr Claire Weekes books helped me with that symptom in particular.

Good luck. Hope it goes well, I know how you feel, not sure I could admit some things to anyone, no matter how much its supposed to help me.