this sounds like i wrote this. i know exactly how you feel and im so happy to know im not alone!! i just had a panic attack about 20 min ago and it wasn't fun at all. im 20 and i've had them a good 8 years. they left me for a while then came back when things went chaotic. lately i've been so sensitive to everything and the attacks come on. i think i might go to the doctors...even if i don't get meds...at least they have things we can try and do to feel better...before..during and after one.

i obviously dont have much advice other then go to the doctor. even if you don't get meds just ask for advice on it. i hope you feel better and i hope your attacks go away! good luck!!!
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hi im a 29 year old male that is now married and have a newborn son.i like you had a rough childhood except my parents werent religous and my ex-stepdad was abusive.I storngly relate to you about social phobia.adn alot of it is because the stress put on us about matterial things.i adventualy got past caring what others think.i had went through several relationships and now on 2nd marriage.the thing i keep in mind is judge not yet ye be judged when i feel that stress from others or like im being judged i usually am.now granted ive got in some fights and even been questioned by the law.i am certifiable.but what i do now that makes it thier problem and not mine is the little voice of thought you have during those times repeat it.no matter how rude or unacceptable to that person adventually who you are and been hiding comes out.life is to short to live it for any1 other that youreself.once you get to where you tell or ask people what they are looking at or what there problem is you become mad and not shy or scared yeah im an a-hole now but hey i enjoy my life and people actually look up to me instead of down at me now.
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I started having panic attacks after hurricane Katrina. They were so scary and I couldn't do anything. I felt like I was going to have a heart attack or something. The worst time for me was when they would happen when I was driving. I even stopped driving unless I absolutely had to.

I started seeing a social worker first but that didn't really help me. I found a book that helped me so much. In fact, I haven't had a panic attack in quite a while now.

The book is called, "From Panic to Power". It's by Lucinda Bassett. All I did was read the book and it helped me so much.

I hope this helps you because I know what you are going through. Hang in there, it will get better. Maybe you can find a support group on the Internet or in real life. I wish you the best.
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You need to go to constant councelling.
You need to also mix and live with people of your own age, and dont be frightened to mix that up with girls too.
Change living arangements till you meet peole you fit in with and it should be a multiple house so theres lots of experience and people for you to get to know, and for you to start being yourself and come out of your shell. Slowly, you will build confidence.
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What Are the Treatments?
The cause of most panic attacks is not clear, so treatment may be different for each person. Typically, it involves psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, or medication. Alternative treatments like meditation and relaxation therapy are often used to help relax the body and relieve anxiety.

Psychotherapy offers support and helps to minimize the fearfulness of symptoms, and sometimes is sufficient to clear up the disorder. Recurrent attacks, however, require additional measures.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps people learn to deal with panic symptoms, using techniques like muscle and breathing relaxation. They also gain reassurance that panic will not lead to the catastrophic events they fear, since many people fear they are having a heart attack.

Antidepressants, such as Tofranil, often help reduce anxiety and the frequency and severity of panic attacks. Even more frequently used medications are the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs, such as Prozac, Paxil, Celexa, Lexapro and Zoloft). This group of medications is often considered the first line of treatment for panic disorders. Often, anti-anxiety medications such as Xanax, Klonopin and Ativan are provided at least in the beginning of medical therapy.

Important note regarding medications: Some of these drugs can actually produce the anxiety symptoms of a panic attack. It is often best to start with a low dose and slowly increase medication for this disorder.

How Can I Prevent Them?
You can take steps to lessen the chance of attacks and learn to manage them better. Learn to recognize a panic attack. When you sense the first symptoms, know that other symptoms may follow. You have survived them before and can do so again. Try slow, deep breaths.

Take your time. It's important not to hope for a quick cure. Therapy takes time, and improvement comes in small steps.
Go easy on yourself. People who feel panic tend to be overly critical of themselves.
Learn to lower your level of everyday anxiety through a variety of techniques, including meditation and exercise.
Avoid stimulants, such as nicotine and caffeine, which can be found not only in coffee, but many teas, colas and chocolate.
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well iam younger than you and i had the same sorta problem (but not as intense) what i found was helpful was to meditate and do some yoga. Also keeping a diary or talking to some1 about how you feel. this may sound weird but i used a therapist. i only went like a few times but it kinda helped me. no one needs to no you have a therapist. meditating does help. what you need to do is calm down. take deep slow breaths. no one will make fun of you. seriously you are 23, no one will make fun of you. you seem sweet and im pretty sure you will be much more comfortable if you open up a bit. when in a panic attack take slow deep breaths. think about the worst possible scenario. its probably not as bad as you think it is. I hope i helped. Good luck!
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I hope i helped. Good luck!

I know how you feel. I'm 23 (24 on Sunday) and I've grown up with many psychological problems, including anxiety. I cannot go anywhere by myself. I guess everyone deals with things differently. The thing that helped me out was finding someone I could trust. This person ended up being my bf of almost 4 years now. After I learned that he would accept me flaws and all, I was comfortable going places with him. There are even a few (and I mean very few) places I will go to alone now. My advice, find someone you trust (a friend, family member, etc.) and start going out places together. Gradually you will learn to deal with the anxiety of being out in public. I know it may be hard to do, but its the only thing I can think of.
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You have e-mail disabled. If you shoot me a message, I can send you something to try that could very well help you.

The problem though is that anxiety is something which becomes an automatic part of your thinking patterns. To cure it, you have to close old neural pathways and create new ones to automatically reject your old ways of thinking. It takes a lot of time, dedication and repetition - but it's something you absolutely must do to reclaim your life.
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Just relax, relax, relax... Let the good life come to you. It's waiting for you. If you feel you need assistance, look up a counselor in the phone book under mental health or check out some websites that offer prescription medication that can treat panic attacks.
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www.lexapro.com
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Wow, I'm truly sorry. I always feel sorry for the people who had to deal with the over religious people. What do you like to do? Don't worry about the things you worry about the most. The time comes whenever, it won't come as you are expecting it. If you continuously think about having a relationship, the truth is, when you do have a relationship it won't be all caught up to what you thought it was most likely. It usually takes a few times before people actually are with the person they truly love and get along with.
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I have panic attacks. Ativan works well to relieve them. Maybe you should talk to a Dr.
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