Is what I am experiencing an anxiety attack?

[seesawteddy]

Hi, this is my first post in Mental Health.
I am really struggling at the moment and I’m not sure if what I’m experiencing is anxiety attacks.
As an example, I’ve got a project I’m working on and when a mini-deadline comes along it’s like I freeze; I can’t focus on work, I am so distracted by feeling awful I can’t do anything, it’s like a black curtain or wave of despair just envelopes me and everything feels utterly impossible and I don’t even feel like me anymore, It usually builds and culminates within a day or two, my stress and tension and misery build and build until I have a massive ugly sobbing crying fit, usually for a couple of hours, that releases the tension and leaves me able to think clearer but exhausted and feeling headachey and cold and shivery (weirdly) for at least a day, sometimes two afterwards.
I know the ‘black curtain’ bit sounds like depression, but I’m not so sure, it’s like a wave that absolutely floors me but then I can get up and carry on, it’s not a constant thing, although it is happening regularly, every time I am under pressure.

Google tells me anxiety attacks involve chest pain and shortness of breath though, which I don’t have.
Can anyone help me understand what it is that I am going through?

Thanks

Anyone?
Regardless of whether it is or isn’t anxiety does anybody else have these emotional crashes? I don’t have the language to tell people what it’s like being me at the moment. ‘A bit stressed’ is wat I say, but it doesn’t come close really, I feel like I’m cracking up.

Depression isn’t always a constant thing. Can you make a GP appointment and show them what you’ve written? Have you found anything that helps control it?

It could be anxiety. I didn’t get chest pains and I certainly didn’t feel like I was hyperventilating or short of breath with mine.
What I did realise in time was that I was taking shallow breaths (essentially hyperventilating but I hadn’t noticed it) when I was stressed. I’d be like it for a few days and then be so exhausted from it that I could of slept for days. I sort of lived in a weird fog for those few days just merely functioning and life didn’t make sense. Awful.

I did go and see a GP and I was diagnosed with anxiety and mild depression. I saw a lovely lady who helped retrain my breathing and rewired my brain (as I like to put it). Definitely worth an appointment with your Doctor.

I have these exact same episodes and I put it down to anxiety and depression. They normally come after a build up of anxiety or worry. I will suddenly just sob and sob and be unable to function and will even dissociate and feel like everything around me is foggy and unreal.

I don't get shortness of breath or chest pains t this point but I do feel like there is a huge crushing weight on me and a build up of pressure in my head that is released after crying. Sometimes I get chest pains but they normally come during calmer periods all of a sudden.

Mine have recently been quite regular and although I already take buspirone and duloxetine every day I have been prescribed diazepam to take when these episodes start which is massively helpful. It might be worth speaking to your GP. I hope you feel better