Hi Sandy, I have had some horrible bouts with panic attacks driving over the last few months. I have been put on medication and I feel I have walked out of a dark cloud. You should ask your doctor if there are other medicines that may help you to see the benefit and stay on them. I need help with my problem but now I can feel calm inside while I find the best way to solve my deeper problem. It feels like a brand new day! Good Luck! Linda :)

Hi Sandy, You shouldn't be afraid of your panic attacks. I have them everyday too. I don't have the meds that I need coz I just moved back to another state. I am hopefully getting my meds back. But, I am wondering whether you have med phobic. You can have panic attacks from being scared of the meds. Don't be scared. You know, I had to brain wash myself into thinking that my meds are just candy. I still think that way about my meds. Take your meds and see what happens.. It will help you. Just a tip, don't read the paper about the meds. I use to do that, and I would have a panic attack. I would scare myself out of my wits. The meds will help you. It helps me. And just in time for me to take my candy.. (my meds of course) Keep posting.. Foa

Hi Sandy, You say you're on Zoloft and Ativan but aren't taking the medication (?) am I understanding that correctly? So does that mean they've been prescribed to you but you've been afraid to try them? I'm assuming you've received these medications from your doctor, yes? Maybe, one thing you can do, is read up on the medications - would that help your comfort level or would it make it worse - sometimes, for me, if I read up on a medication it can 'sometimes' feed my anxieties - when you read up on a medication, it tends to list a lot of 'possible' side affects, but most likely, only one or two may affect you... my suggestion.....try taking the medication as prescribed ,give it a chance, it may make a big difference. Don't be afraid of medication - it's there for a reason, these meds have been designed specifically for panic/anxiety/depression disorders, and if you're working closely with a doctor, you're in safe hands - stay honest with your doctor, keep the lines of communication open, and if you feel uncomfortable with the medications' affects on you, call your doctor and disscuss it with him or her..... I see a lot of people afraid of taking medication and I can understand that, but, most times...and in your case I don't know because I don't your specifics, but a lot of doctors will start patients out on a low dose and see how it "fits" and work from there. If you're still afraid, I'd call your doctor and talk it out..... I don't know how strong the ativan was that was prescribed to you is, but I've taken ativan - very low dose, and my experience with it was that it was very helpful. I'm just sharing with you, my experience... and as long as these meds were prescribed to you by a doctor and you are working with this doctor on your anxiety/panic issues, I think that you are safe in giving the medication a chance. It seems, at this point, you wouldn't have anything to loose by trying... a lot of overcoming our anxiety/panic is removing our fears and taking small steps towards that - small steps toward overcoming our fears that make us sort of feel held hostage.... the choice is always yours. do you have a therapist? maybe that would be helpful too.... so that in times like these, you could call someone like a therapist and describe what you're

hello...i am so scared! i am on zoloft and ativan and so paranoid that i'm afraid to take pills. i was going to the gym and had a panic attack there and have quit going...that as over a month ago...i haven't left my house....i worry so much that i'm going to die, that i bring on attacks almost daily. i spend most of my time in bed. i'm so tired, and want to die sometimes. i am phisically and emotionally tired.