So a while ago, I was just relaxing at home with my girlfriend after going for a coffee with my friend. I felt a little dizzy (which I later discovered was probably due to caffeine induced anxiety) so I decided to lie down for a bit.

Out of nowhere, this intense fear just swept over my body and I sit up immediately. I couldn't breathe, my heart was pounding, I was shaking and I felt a weird tingling sensation throughout my body. My girlfriend tried to calm me down, but I kept saying that something is very wrong. I asked her to call the emergency number in my country. I genuinely thought I was having a heart attack or something and I was going to die. I'd never felt such intense fear before.. Naturally, my gf was a bit shaken and had tears in her eyes but managed to call them up.   
She told them that I couldn't breathe and my heart was pounding and the operator was about to send an ambulance.   


I somehow recognized in my head that I might be having some sort of anxiety attack, which I then mentioned. The operator lady picked up on this and began calming me down and figured that this was the most likely scenario. She said that panic attacks can cause the symptoms I'm describing and that I should try to breathe slowly. She was very nice and helpful and stayed on the line until I got myself calmed down to the point where I could think straight again. I was still scared, but I could manage it. She told me that if it didn't go away in 30 minutes, that I should call them again and they could send an emergency psychiatrist.   


We got off the phone and I sat there for a while, trying to contemplate what had happened. I knew I had anxiety, but I'd never had a panic attack before. I felt fine the rest of the evening.. Obviously a bit shaken, but in some way I was kind of relieved, since I now knew what had happened.   


From that day, anytime I felt that same overwhelming fear, I immediately recognized it and was able to calm myself down very quickly. I still get them occasionally, but I know what they are now and they don't scare me as much anymore. I know I'm not dying and that it's my anxiety breaking through. Although occasionally, I will get them where it's a little too intense to my liking, but it never lasts long.  


I'm still suffering quite greatly with anxiety still, but at least I'm not having full scale panic attacks.  


Just wanted to share. Maybe some of you guys have tried similar?  


Thanks for reading!