Chris,
Someone once described panic attacks as a sort of "internal car crash" that was incomprehensible to anyone who had not experienced them. It goes something like this:
Bob is going about his normal business, when suddenly he is aware of a feeling of dread creeping over his body. His mouth dries, his heart starts to bang, his stomach contracts violently. Bob does the worse thing possible and tries to argue with himself to control the sensations. Adrenaline is then pumped into his bloodstream and Bob thinks he is going to die.
Eventually it subsides and a much-rattled Bob breathes a sigh of relief, some sort of abberation maybe.
A few days later it happens again. The bloody thing is here to stay! Now, Bob thinks he's going mad, what if this happens at work, at the shops, in the cinema? Gotta control it!
Bob doesn't realise that the panics are caused by an overloaded and sensitised nervous system, he has been tricked into believing that he has a serious problem. He hasn't, panic attacks are two a penny.
The trick is to accept them and work around them, eventually they will become less important and fade to an acceptable level. If they happen when others are present make an excuse and visit the loo!
Englishman.