Hi Snoopy,
I'm afraid that is too much of a generalization. My Mother, Sister and Niece all suffer(ed) from extreme Anxiety Attacks, although I knew nothing of my Mother's and was first of other 3 to manifest.
I was an extremely happy 22yo with a nice house, beautiful Fiancee and job I loved in Quality Management. My Fiancee and I were having a meal in a restaurant with her parents and a couple of friends. Out of the blue I started sweating and shaking, my vision became tunnelled then started 'greying out' and my heart started racing and pounding with pains as though I was having a heart attack. I didn't even excuse myself - I just had to get out - and I barged my way outside.
I was not worried or fearful prior to the attack, this is the thing, Anxiety is totally irrational. Typing this is raising my levels alarmingly high but I am calm in myself.
Luckily I was working for an American company with people who understood. My desk was moved next to the door, in meetings I sat by an open door and I was excused functions and seminars until I started beta-blockers, which I popped like Pez.
The Psychologist who triggered my attacks again was supposed to be on my PM team, and Anxiety came up in the first session as I have problems with eye contact because of it. He triggered an attack to show how little control I had. This was just 3 months after my Cardiologist had stopped beta-blockers to put me on new heart meds.

Dave.