Reply #23: I've had PD and bouts with agoraphobia

[Oeditpus Rex]

for 38 years, since I was 11.

Man, you've been through a lot of trauma, and most of it's been loss/separation. No wonder you're having panic attacks.

I'll probably catch a lot of hell for this, but don't let anyone tell you that counseling alone will work, much less DIY therapy. It helps to understand what causes the stimuli, but panic attacks are caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain; the best evidence points to a misfiring of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, which triggers the "fight or flight" response. This can be controlled to some extent with homeopathic therapy — keep caffeine and red meat to a minimum, get plenty of vitamin B, etc.

But I often use diabetes as an analogy. Diabetics are probably better than anyone about watching what they eat, but only a fool would suggest they can get by without insulin.

So... first: Find the med, or combination of meds, that works for you. This may take awhile, since there are so damned many of them (and so many doctors who have preferences), and they work differently with different people. But when you find what works, it's well worth the time in the experimental stage.

Then put the control to work. Do the stuff that scares you. The more you do it, the more you can do it. Your confidence will grow, and you'll start thinking you can do it without the meds. This is good, but eeeease off of them. Take a little bit less for awhile and see how that works. If it goes well, take a little less again, etc. (Note, too, that tricyclic and SSRI anti-depressants are not physically addicting. Benzodiazepine anti-anxiety agents are, but it's not so hard to get off a low dose.)

And PM me if you want, whenever you want. I've been there. To some extent, I'm still there. I understand.