To Sarah in Canada I too, live in Canada. I have had my working life interrupted repeatedly by panic/agoraphobia. Apply for Cannada Pension Plan disability. This way, you have some income on a regular basis. The 15 weeks of UI go by so fast, and the Long term Disability policies of many companies (including some big unions) don't or won't cover you, or have an extremely limited length of time. On one LTD plan ( an ontario government one, no less,) I had to see the pschotherapist THEY assigned. It was not a good mix. This guy actually made me worse--he was into a technique known as "flooding" and yes, it's as terrifying as it sounds. So I stopped seeing him, even though it meant I was cut off. I had to go on welfare---Trust me, apply for the CPP, when you're well, they discontinue, but it's automatic restart 12 weeks after you relapse. In a way, this gives me piece of mind, as money worries on top of anxiety are way too much at times. Good Luck to all Lauralai

About 1 1/2 years ago I stopped teaching English because of fear of blushing. It has been with me all my life. I have been on medications and therapy for the past 14 years off and on. I don't really wish to deal with a job anymore. My husband provides. I try to fill my time with reading, writing, painting, and volunteer work. I sometimes wish we had more money, but, my body can't seem to take much now. Here I am, looking for comfort and looking to give comfort.

Ronny & Sarah- Thanks for your responses. I pray that we will all overcome this disease one day but while we struggle, it's important to remember that we WILL get through this one day. All the literature I have read points to panic disorder being very controllable and I HAVE to believe that it is. I've made contact with a few therapists/doctors and hopefully next week I will go see one - I'm actually quite scared of doing "things". Amazing how one of these episodes can undo years of progress, huh? -Polly

I'm on a medical leave for the first time in my career because my anxiety is so bad. I live in Canada, so I don't know what the rules are where you live, but I'll give you a synopsis of what I've experienced so far. I was put on leave on August 17 for a minimum of 4 weeks by my CBT / psychiatrist. I did not tell my supervisor anything, with the exception that I would be off for personal medical reasons. The policy in the hospital where I work is to have a caseworker assigned to you in Occupational Health. She knows why I am off, but no one else does. They cannot fire me because I am sick and unable to come to work - I could sue the pants off them for wrongful dismissal if they did. My leave has been extended until the end of September, and honestly I can't see myself going back to work until Christmas / New Year. I am recieving sick pay benefits (66% of my regular pay, as per policy) for 15 weeks, and then I am entitled to unemployement insurance. I am fortunate to be married and have a second income in the house, not to mention an extremely supportive husband who frankly doesn't care if I never go back to work. He just wants me to be happy. After a lifetime of pushing myself too hard and way past the point of exhaustion, I have decided that my body has given me a wakeup call. I, too, have had an episode bad enough to call 911, so you are not alone in that. I, too, am often afraid of being alone. After 4 weeks of intense self-examination and thinking, I have decided to turn this into a positive opportunity. I deserve to be off work. I am unable to work as I am battling a life-consuming disorder. I am exhausted, I am weakened, and I am afraid. I deserve rest. But, I will not go back to work until I decide and I am absolutely ready. Like I said, my body is now calling the shots and it actually feels really good accept that I'm on a leave. I'm not saying its easy, but I know that being at home is the right place for me now. If I were to return to work too early, it would undo all of the hard work and effort I have put into my recovery. Sorry this has turned into such a rant, but I really identified with how you are feeling. Ask you doctor to put you on a medical leave, it sounds like you could use a rest. Tell you employer nothi

Dear Nopicknik, My panic attacks make me faint, so for several days my stomach is upset (feel like someone kicked me in the solar plexis) and nausea, no appetite, sleep more....these are things my psychologist told me today are recovery issues that my body needed to get over the fainting. I don't know how your panic attacks effect you, but perhaps this is the reason that you feel so physically unable to get to work....I also was unable to work after these attacks and eventually, I resigned.

I just had a pretty nasty relapse of panic 2 days ago, 911 and all. Never been this bad. Came as quite a shock as I've been mostly ok for the last 5 years with only minimal anxiety here and there. I no longer trust my body and am quite scared of being alone. Other than that, I'm having a hard time eating due to nausea and nervousness and when I do eat, even something bland like crackers, I get sort of "woozy". Has anyone else experienced this? I wake up nauseaus and nervous :( I'm now on my 2nd day off from work and not sure when I'll be ready to go back - Does anyone know how employers tolerate this sort of condition? I don't want to lose my job, but I need time to get well. Do most of you work? Stay strong, Polly