GINA, It's funny that you said that! Just today I was talking with an old friend of mine. She asked how I was and I was very open with her. Come to find out, she has been dealing with a panic disorder for years....and I never knew! I worked with this woman everyday and didn't know. That in itself blew my mind. I finally found a person I can talk to about it without feeling uneasy. Thanks for the replies mommzay, Melanie,tjd,katie and Gina.

hi there jimbo i to felt the same way at first and i found that instead of hiding it i tell everyone im not embarressed about having panic and by talking about it have learned so many people i know have or had it before in their lives that and the meds have made me feel myself again so try to not hide it talk about it tp people and you will fell better you will probably find that people you know have felt it before too!

I am planning on setting an appointment next week. It is odd how far away a few days seems when I need help this very second. Thank you all for the kind words. I have to get through this, this is no way to live.

Hi Jimbo, I was scared of the same things when I first started to have panic attacks. I dind't want anyone to find out and fire me. I work with clients one on one and figured if one of them found out what i was experiencing they would not want me working with them. But, as things got worse I started to call in sick more frequently and ended up losing my clients and jobs. I am in a treatment program that requires no meds and is starting to help a little each day. Also, myself and the therapist signed a confidentiality agreement, so noone, not even family can find out my records or even if I have ever visited the practice. I also did this without a doctor's referal so nothing appears on any of my records. Any phone message left between me and her are left on our personal cel phone mailboxes... so again no way of tracking the situation. Hope this helps a bit. Take care of it sooner rather then later... it only gets worse if left untreated. Look into cognitive behavioural therapy... you don't need a doc referal and most of the time they don't like to include meds in the procedure. Katie

I have been through the same thing. I have been to the emergency room at least 12 times in the last 4 months until my doctor told suggest that I talk to some one. I did and was put on meds. I am still struggling but each day gets better so don't give up there is help out there and I'm really glad I found this site. In the past few days I have learned a lot just by reading and relating to other stories. I thank God for this site and helping me, because with out God nothing is possible.

Jimbo, You need to discuss these feeling with your family doctor. He or she knows you best and by the sounds of things your doctor has been able to send you for many tests in the past. The symptoms that you are experiencing on a daily basis should be assessed by your doctor. We all tend to diagnose our symptoms first without seeking medical assistance. The best form of advice is to go right to your doctor. In the meantime you can take our Anxiety Test. The Anxiety Test is not a diagnostic tool and is not a replacement or substitute for a physician's advice. The purpose of the test is to prepare you with information that you can present to your physician. When you're finished the test, you can either print your Final Report or email it directly to your doctor. Please continue to visit us and share with us how you are coping. We hope that we have guided you in the right direction today. Looking forward to hearing from you soon, Melanie _____________________________________ The Panic Center Support Team

Hi there - you've obviously seen your family doc because you say you've had MRI's and countless other tests. Has your doctor not done anything or suggested panic to you? It doesn't have to be a psychiatrist or psychologist who prescribes medication to you. Your doctor can. Your doctor is bound by confidentiality so you should discuss this with him/her and ask them about confidentiality issues. Also if you investigate this site and others there are treatment plans without meds.

Thanks for the reply Carol. I know I need some professional help, and will probably do so in the near future. I just have to let myself accept that I may have to change jobs. I will have to be okay with that. I have studied my entire life for this job, but may lose it. There are many roads to travel though, I will just see different scenery is all. Thanks again Carol. Jimbo

Hi Jimbo: Please go to the drs. there is nothing to feel ashamed of. As you can see from this web site that many, many people suffer from anxiety. There is a lot of good information here. Hope you're reading it. You don't have to be alone in this. Ask for help. Carol

I have read so many posts, with some of them describing what I'm feeling. I can't explain my feelings to my family or friends, because I have always been the most stable person they all know and they just would not understand. This is my first attempt at this, so here goes: Each and every morning, I get up feeling normal. After I've been wide awake for about 30 minutes, I begin getting butterflies in my stomach. Once the butterflies get going, I begin to get a lump in my throat. The lump in my throat reminds me of when I was 5 or 6 years old and was about to cry. The lump then leads to not being able to breath very well. It's like my throat is closing up. I seem to get through the morning attack okay because I have to get ready for work, feed the dogs, get the wife and kids off to work and school etc. [It's 7:15 a.m. right now and I have just finished the morning episode] The days are varied due to my work schedule, but I tend to have episodes similar to the morning cycle. Then, as evening approaches, it's time for the big one. From approximately 6:30 p.m. until I fall asleep, it's an endless episode. It begins with the lump in my throat, then the inability to breath and finally, pacing the floor and staring out my windows until late at night. I want to cry but can't. I want to scream, but can't. I want to run away and hide, but where would I go. I am constantly finding new symptoms of major illnesses. Right now, my left cheek and jaw muscles are not functioning correctly. The muscle won't relax and hangs for 3 or 4 seconds after being tensed. Web MD says its a form of Muscular Dystrophy. But am I imagining it? I have had MRI's, EKG's, bloodwork, stress tests, liver function tests, and they never find my illness. I know it's there, why can't they find it? I fear that I will lose my job, because if they knew about my episodes, they would fire me for sure. The type of work that I do REQUIRES sound mind and judgement. Believe me, they would not understand. I'm afraid to see a doctor to get meds because of background checks that are done every year. They will ask if I've seen a psychologist, or the like, for treatment. If I say yes, I'm fired for sure. If I say no, and they find out, I'm fired then for lying. I know that no treatme