i feel you with that, my wife when i have a panic attack, she just looks at me with a look of i dont even know whats going on, but its hard i think everyones panic/anxitey is diffrent, but i always chalk it up to being nervous, most ppl understand what nervous or being nervous is or means
its when your really nervous or really scared, panic attacks on the other hand, its very hard to explain unless they are in your shoes, we all know that, but to me as long as they are there to help no explanation is needed... im 34 and didnt even know what anxiety was till my mid 20s, thats why i always just say being really nervous, because that what i always though i was, just a really nervous child and worried about eveything...
hope that helps