This is my first post to this forum, and to be honest with you I try not to read anything to do with forums like these. I had a panic attack five years ago coming out of the gym on the way home, and it came out of no where, I never had one before or even a hint of one. After three months of trying to figure out what was going on, I never understood what was happening to me and to be honest, never believed that this is what it was, I believed it had to be something else. I was given Xanax to put under my tongue when I felt something come along, and it would stop an attack before it started. The attacks finally went away after three months and I never had one again( I would yell at myself when I felt weird that "Nothing was there to hurt me" and even though I only took two of the original twelve pills, it made me feel better that I had the meds near in case something happened to me.) I like to think that I am a logical person and I would like to share with what I know to you in as logical way as I know, if this is possible. First of all, we have anxiety, I have found out that it does no good to tell others how bad something will be for them based on personal experience unless you have clinical proof to show that everyone that takes a certain drug has the same bad symptoms and died from it. Everyone reacts to something differently and the opinion you post may stop someone from taking a medicine that may help them and would've have no side effects on them at all. So it is important to read these posts from others and to take it into account with what they experienced and try it for yourself first and not think of any bad side effects unless something really bad happens to you. There are many people out there on paxil who do great, and there are some who havent. Just do not take someone's opinion or story to heart and decide that it would be worse to take a medication before finding out that it may help you, and it may not effect you the same way it did them. Ok, with this being said, I would like to let you know what I learned so far by myself, and to warn you, I have always liked to write so this may be long.. so let me get my Nilla wafers and my snapple before I start. Like I said before I had an attack out of nowhere when I was 2

Hello Jude, I know just what you mean about enjoying yourself when you are out, but finding it hard to actually get out there. Looking back, I'm sure I've been doing that "I'd rather stay at home" thing since childhood, on and off...I used to refuse invitations to go out, even as a teenager, just because it felt too stressful to think about getting ready and then facing it all out there... And then I'd be miserable at home, feeling left out and as if everyone else was living a more exciting life. I manage to out to go to work: no choice there, of course, but even so I get quite depressed on Sundays as it looms up again. And at the end of my working week I'm so relieved to be back home and be able to stay there (where it's "safe"!) for a while! But I know that this reliance on "home" isn't healthy for me: I use it as a place to hide from the real world, and it's a bit like my relationship with food: I use it for a "comfort", though I know overeating leads to me feeling unhappy. I have to resist that pull to stay home all the time...often when my husband wants me to go shopping, or to the pub, with him I have to force myself out. One of the worst is not going to the gym, which I totally need to do for my physical and mental health, but over and over again I find a reason not to go: always some other crucial job that needs doing...at home, of course!! When I do manage to go, and thankfully (largely thanks to all of you on this site!) at the moment I have started to go again, (nearly as often as I should...) I still have to say to myself, as the excuses start to emerge in my mind.. "Just GO!". And I have this little conversation with my reluctant self, whenever it starts to try to wriggle out of going, "Just GO, just GO"...and so I do, grabbing everything quickly and getting out the door before I can change my mind! I'm very clever at finding really plausible reasons for staying, but I try not to listen to myself! And then of course I'm pleased I've gone. Don't know if a similar little trick might work for you Jude. Good luck with getting out there! Love, Sarajo.

Hi Jude. Perhaps if you work the program, one of your objectives can be to plan ahead for one outing a week? Gaining control demands a certain amount of commitment to a schedule of objectives you make for yourself, and engagement in your own success. If you can't seem to bridge that gap between planning and action, perhaps you should discuss this with your therapist?

I have had panic disorder and depression for almost 25 years. I have a great Dr. and take Celexa and Ativan. Although these have been wonderful for my anxiety and despression, I still find it very difficult to leave the house. I always have an excuse. Sometimes I can force myself to go the the store or somewhere else nearby. And I'm fine. And even enjoy myself. I think "I should do this more often" But then I keep putting if off for weeks and weeks. My family is getting digusted with me because they see I CAN go out and I must be just lazy. I've never been lazy and have worked very hard all my life so this really hurts! This has been going on for many years. I wish I could find a way to change.