Jill, I know exactly what you've been going through. When my panic disorder first hit in 1999 I felt the same way for weeks. It was as if someone had rubbed my nerves raw with a brillo pad!! But like you I have a strong christian faith, great family, and I had good Dr.'s. Sometimes I think it's just this world we live in. There is so much stimuli out there and the evolution of our bodies and minds is not keeping up with the incredible technological advances we continue to create. We breathe and eat all kinds of chemicals and we make more and more noise. We constantly fill our days to the brim and stay busy, busy....... There's no time for our minds and bodies to be quiet and rest. Most people don't know how to be still. At least we're not alone in our panic. There are alot of us out there. Hang in there and thanks for sharing your story. :)

BTW---can those tremors make you feel like your heart is skipping beats??

Jill Congrats on being so strong. I am a strong Christian but sometimes I wonder where God has gone. Sometimes I feel like I am living Hell on earth. I could deal with this if the physical stuff would go away. I lay awake for hours at night and I feel like my heart skips beats. I am so tired during the day it takes every thing I have to get through my day at work and when I get home I have nothing left for my husband and kids. I feel like I am missing out on so much and there is nothing I can do about it!!

Has anyone ever experienced a panic attack for longer than an hour? I was clocking two weeks straight here - seriously. I'm over it now (thanks to the Lord no doubt). But, this was my very first experience.. and of course I am so very afraid of it happening again. I just keep praying and praying for others too. I never thought I'd be here in this situation but it appears after two professional visits, I believe my dr is pointing me in the direction of panic disorder. My symptoms: Inside shaking terrors: I would sleep for 8-18 hours straight on my stomach to hold these terrors down. Even then it didn't subside. It just dampened it. I went to sleep & woke up with the tremor terrors. Rocking myself: I needed to rock constantly when laying or sitting because I had the chest pressure from terrors and jerking yet soft movement would in a way change my mind for a few minutes at least. Flight or fight response: Man, this was in high gear. At times, I'd walk around in my bedroom pacing because now I believe it helped me calm the need to flee. I attempted work a few times within two weeks and was only successful about 25% of the time. Most days I went home after 2-4 hours of office work. In the meantime while I was there oh say... 2 hours, I walked around the parking lot, went to the bathroom about 7 times just to flee, was out of my desk at every single opportunity to make a copy, file, etc. Then- I went home. Couldn't take the stillness. I felt I needed to escape. And I did. I needed to escape this feeling. I wanted to share these experiences because I am definitely not the only one going through this. YOU WILL come out of it. I wish I could say mine only lasted for a short time but it was a very long 2 weeks with only about 10 hours of relief at certain times. Right now I feel needy to be around people who understand me. My sister I feel has a bit of understanding. She is my angel right now. And my aunt too. I am allowing myself to be this way (minimally). It was a life changing experience. Out of this, the most important thing I have to tell is to keep praying, DO NOT GIVE UP or give in brothers and sisters in Christ. The musical witness of God Stephen Curtis-Chapman said "Remember your chains." Please do that. When life is good and the normal