I got my first anxiety attack at 19 years old and has to be hospitalized for a short spell. Really got them bad in my 20s and 30's. Finally wised up and changed my diet and what I was drinking, and it helped immensely. The only time I get full blown ones now is when I fly - and I do take Lorazepam, but that is a last resort due to what it does to my body.

Only thing I can recommend is eat well, exercise, and try yoga/guided meditation. Yoga REALLY helps with your breathing and how to control it and your body. It's amazing what you can do with your autonomic system. Good luck.

It is difficult to explain it. To me, if feels like you are going to die, heart attack or something related. You literally are jumping out of your skin. It's a horrible feeling.

I don't know that drug, I took Xanax when it was out of control. When I learned how these drugs worked - I strived to only take it when it is absolutely necessary. Once I changed my diet, limited alcohol, and started to exercise hard, they almost disappeared. I had been tested for everything else, I literally remember the last few and I would just yell at myself "there is nothing physically wrong with me - it's in my head"....

That worked as well. I know people who are on Xanax every day - how they function I have no idea.

Wow - this reminds me of the only time I saw a therapist. I was just prescribed Xanax for the first time and I had to go see him, as it was required. So I go and see this guy, he tells me to start talking of my childhood. I do so, and he says my problem is I have a lot of "separation" in my life and that is what is causing my attacks. What a crock of shit.

I caried my Xanax with me for 15 years - just so I had it with me JUST IN CASE. All in all, I think I've taken it maybe 30 times in my life. Again - now I use it for flying, but on my trip next week - I'm going to not take it. I'd rather fight through it than take Xanax.

The last few years when I did take it for flying, I really had memory loss - which is a side effect. Not good.

Vitamin D is very very important. Everyone should get their levels taken.

It basically is the infrastructure of all the chemical interactions in our body. It also has shown that people with lower levels have shorter lifespans.

For me, this works as I think my body starts to "get it" and while it progresses, I'm not as afraid about it.

I agree that eating healthy and exercise helps a lot, as does self guided meditation.