When mine gets really bad, it’ll feel like a slow buildup of tension that is quickly released without my control. Almost like an attack. In the past, it’s actually felt like a shock as well.
But it sounds like NT people I’ve talked with don’t see it like that 🤔 and frankly neither does the internet at large 🥴
I've come to rely on visualization to help me cope with my overwhelming feelings, so for me, anxiety is like a set of reels in my chest, spinning at high speed to heighten the tension in wires spread throughout every muscle and joint in my body. It makes everything tighten up, speeds my heartbeat and breathing.
Sometimes when it's quiet and I focus on my breathing I can make the reels slow down and get some progressive muscle relaxation started up.