[hider=my rant for those who are interested]
Sometimes I wish there was a way for people who have never had a panic attack to experience one. That way they would know that I can't "just calm down" and I can't "just breathe". It's not that I WON'T. It's that I CAN'T. CAN'T. I am physically incapable of breathing, calming down or stopping the tears from flowing. I am incapable of "not stressing about things so much" and "looking at the bright side" or "thinking of something else". 

A panic attack is painful, scary and once it starts it cannot be turned off like a light switch. The best way you can help someone having a panic attack is to get them somewhere quiet and let them know everything is okay, sometimes reassuring them multiple times. Patting the back or shoulders is okay, but hugs are not going to help because they make me feel constricted when I already feel like I can't breathe.[/hider]

Now to work on my post!