Dear Charlie,
I am so glad I found this site, and, hopefully you will to. If you search around and the many 'posts' you will recieve valuable information and personal testimonies of many people suffering from the exact same thing you are - it is incredible how every person's stories and daily experiences are the same - it is a great place to come everyday to tell what is going on with you and get advice.
I intend you use this site if ever I am having a full blown attack here at home with no one to reach out to -the site administrator Anne-Marie says whe would respong to an panic S.O.S., so to speak, if anyone would ever need to.
I have had panic attacts since I was 12 or 13, then thye subsided a bit, then came on full force in my early twenties - now, I do have an MVP in my heart and that is a common thread with panic/agoaphobia.
There is a guy in this group named MrBubble - he has alot of great stuff to say about Cognitive Therapy - I copy and paste his writings into my Word program them print them out - very very helpful. I have been to therapists for years, prescribing me antiaxiety meds, so I can function in life and not be a total hermit - I am in public relations and also, hide my 'freaking out' episodes from those who would think I was an absolute raving lunatic - my real friends understand me and love my anyway - do you have someone you can call and would unconditionally help you through
an attack?
Bye for now,
Maria