We all get anxious about things now & then. Tests, new school, blind date, moving, start of the new school year etc. Anything that puts us into an uncomfortable situation, makes us nervous, we can be judged or scored. A little anxiety & a little fear are very common. Anxiety & fear can become a detriment, especially if it keeps us from daily living. People that really suffer, will shut themselves out of society. many will not leave their homes, won't drive, socialize etc. Usual when you get to that stage it is time to seek medical help, a good shrink will help you realize that you're basically "blowing things way out of proportion, & that your fear is unfounded" Your bf probably is fine & simply nervous-no biggie but can keep you up at night worrying

It's when youre all stressed out and worried and stuff.

I have it. It's your body sending false alarms to you brain that something is wrong, and your body cannot find the problem and starts panicking. While having a panic attack you usually feel like you can't breathe even though your hyperventilating. I use natural medicine to help with it.

All humans (and most other creatures) have evolved two types of nervous systems: the sympathetic and the parasympathetic. The sympathetic - turns on to alert you of danger - increased respiration and heart rate, muscle contraction, pupil dilation, sweating - also called the "fight or flight" mechanism used for our survival - very useful before we invented civilization - and before we created culture and the protections of society. The mechanism can be turned on even when there is no actual danger of being some animal predator's lunch - anticipating a test or asking a girl or guy out on a date can turn it on - it works by your pituitary gland in your brain signaling your adrenal glands to secrete epinephrine (adrenaline). This is called "anticipatory anxiety" and is considered normal because it is appropriate to the situation. Your parasympathetic system will shut it off when appropriate - if its functioning properly. However, sometimes it turns on for no apparent reason - and this is very frightening - people often confuse it with having a heart attack or "going crazy" - this is an "anxiety attack". There are several causes of these attacks that are now known - usually you've inherited a predisposition to them from a parent - as well as other causes - both psychological and physiological. A psychiatrist can assess you - medicate you for temporary relief - but consider a psychologist trained in this area for permanent relief - anti-anxiety medication can be highly addictive - and the drug can present more problems than the condition it was originally prescribed for - exercise, removal of any stimulants from your diet (like caffeine), meditation, breathing exercises, and social interaction can greatly diminish generalized anxiety as well as anxiety attacks (aka "panic attacks").