Panic attacks vs. aspie meltdowns

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What's the difference? I know I have panic attacks sometimes, but I don't know if I have meltdowns. How do you distinguish between the two?

I rarely have meltdowns but I'm pretty sure they aren't panic attacks. I don't have the symptoms. Even though they can be caused by anxiety, I'm not in a state of panic and I don't have physical symptoms so much as emotional ones. I'm not being paralyzed by fear, I'm having trouble processingg what's distressing me.

I always wondered about that. I don't know what mine are, but I just tend to start crying and all I can think about is how I need to get out of the situation. Sometimes I'm 'uncooperative' but I rarely get angry. I don't really freeze up either; I just seem to be in 'flight' mode. I freeze up when I'm scared but not having a panic attack - for example, in the middle of the road when I see a car coming towards me. That did land me in hospital for a few months once -_- I do that for extended periods of time in testing situations, and I can't find the right words etc and I keep screwing up, and then when I realise how badly I'm doing I end up having a panic attack of sorts - start crying, hyperventilating, can't focus on anything, reject anyone who tries to keep me in the situation, just need to run away and be by myself to recharge in safety. Having said that, I've known about panic attacks for years but I only recently heard about meltdowns, so I guess I'd need a typical example of each.

never had panic attacks until the last ADD medication i tried (which i have stopped and will never use again). atomoxetine, a norepinepherine reuptake inhibitor. but ive had a couple minor ones even after stopping the meds. main thing is i feel like i cant breath. at least i hope its just a panic attack and not an actual physiological problem caused by the meds.

I can only speak for myself I guess and I have experience of both, although I dont ave panicattacks or meltdowns anymore.

As a child I had meltdowns and I remember them very well although Im not sure what triggered them, they seemed to come out of the blue and it was just rage and Id scream and hit the couch until I exhausted myself.Then I calmed down and I remember thinking I shouldnt do that cause it hurt my throat.Weird.
As a teenager I would go into something similar to a meltdown( or more like a pre-phase) if pushed too far, I wouldnt know what to do with myself, I felt like I had some energy in me that needed out and I wouldnt know how to get it out.Id sit in front of the closet door ( softer I guess, haha) and rock and bump my head. It seemed to calm me and it never actually went to the point of me really having a meltdown of some sort.Maybe it was more like stimming, not sure.
My ex was once able to actually trigger one, the only one Ive had as an adult and it was a few years ago.He was very emotionally and psychologically abusive and one time I just flipped over to the other side.I was on the floor just screaming and kicking like I kid.It took 2 years of emotional abuse until it came to that.I think I slept for 3 days straight after.
has not happened since then.

I had panicattacks around the age of 20 to 21 badly.Id end up in the ER thinking I was dying.It felt like I was about to faint, I couldnt breathe and it flt literally like PANIC, a strong and extreme type of fear and the worst Ive ever experienced in my life.

I can still sometimes get close to having a panicattack and it may start but never gets to the point of being fullblown.

Id say the main difference, If I was to cut it short, is that one is rage and the other is fear.

I originally thought meltdowns left you exhausted afterwards or could be temporarily held off while panic attacks just come and than you can bounce right back (after your heart rate settles). But based on what I looked up on mayoclinic all my symptoms count as panic attacks .