I work at a retail store, and I recently learned how to use the register. I can do basic stuff like doing a sale, but doing returns, and learning how to accept checks and other stuff is still difficult for me. The second official time I did the register, which was a few days ago, it was during one of the busiest times of the day, and I was at the very first register. I was tired, I was having cramps since it was the beginning of my period, and I didn't know what I was doing most of the time, and I felt like I wanted to cry.
All of a sudden, my head felt like it was swirling; I could barely feel my fingers on the keys; I could barely hear what my customers were saying, and I felt this uncomfortable surge throughout my body; my whole body felt hot; and I felt like I just could have collapsed. Even though it only lasted a few minutes, I still felt sick afterwards, but I don't think I showed any sort of physical signs that I was having some sort of mental attack or something. Whatever it was, I never felt so horrible in my whole life- I never want to feel that way ever again.
So, did I have a panic attack, or what was it?
All of a sudden, my head felt like it was swirling; I could barely feel my fingers on the keys; I could barely hear what my customers were saying, and I felt this uncomfortable surge throughout my body; my whole body felt hot; and I felt like I just could have collapsed. Even though it only lasted a few minutes, I still felt sick afterwards, but I don't think I showed any sort of physical signs that I was having some sort of mental attack or something. Whatever it was, I never felt so horrible in my whole life- I never want to feel that way ever again.
So, did I have a panic attack, or what was it?
1.palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate
2.sweating
3.trembling or shaking
4.sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
5.feeling of choking
6.chest pain or discomfort
7.nausea or abdominal distress
8.feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
9.feelings of unreality (derealization) or being detached from oneself (depersonalization)
10.fear of losing control or going crazy
11.fear of dying
12.numbness or tingling sensations (paresthesias)
13.chills or hot flushes
Also, an "anxiety attack" is used interchangeably with a panic attack and is not classified in the DSM-IV-TR (or at least that's what I read from the internet).
I think what you felt was just a sudden rush of blood to your head or something.
The fact you were on your period is important, I've felt ill like that before while menstruating, I wanted to throw up and the world was hot and spinning.
Panic attacks usually involve feeling your chest tighten, an urge to run away, feeling scared and sweating.