1- Pretty much ecerybody on this site has been through something similar i can assure you. You are not alone in this. We all know what it is like to deal with this. Some of us are new at this and some of of are here for relapses but we all get what you are going through. You came to the right place. Here we will understand you and we will cheer you on and we will be here for you. 2- have you been diagnosed by yur doctor yet? I beleive proper diagnosis to really help you focus your efforts on the right kinds of treatments. IF your doctor does not feel able to do the diagnosis himself he can send you to a specialist. 3- Have you thought of going to see a therapist? In my opinion therapists are always a good idea. Of course you must do your comparison shopping first and pick the one that is right for you. But since you seem isolated i thought maybe the support of a therapist could help. Also, your region might have support groups that are live. That could help out too. 4- As for medication. In many cases it helps a lot. And it doesn't mean you have to take them forever and ever, just for as long as the treatment needs to really work. Medication might make you feel drowsy and they do have side effects but they can really help you calm down enough to do the therapeutic work you need to do to get better. But i would suggest you see your doctor again and that you discuss this thouroughly with him, what you like and don't like and you can come up with a plan you both agree on. Some people do this without any medication And it is ok too. Studies have shown that therapy is very effective even without the medication for anxiety. But if the meds help you get over the hump i don't see why not. It is up to you and how you feel about it. Talk to your doctor come up with a plan yu both can live with. Personnally i take meds and i am ok with it. But we will support you here in whatever decision you make about taking meds or not. But if you are taking meds do not stop them just like that! Some meds need to be tapered off. So if you want to get off any meds talk to your doctor too! 5- There are tools on this site that are really great. 1st there is an anxiety test. It helps you figure out what is going on with you. It is not a formal diagnosis but it is nice to have

Hello, I am new to all of this and am not totaly sure whats going on. 2 Months ago I moved to a new city and a new job away from all my friends into a city where I didnt know anyone, for the first 2 months my job went extremely well and I was feeling great about everything then beginning 3 weeks ago it all began to slowly crash, I have began to get negative thoughts which bother me and my mind builds on them and won't let them go as I used to and everything seems to be triggered from a panic attack where I felt I was losing control, Now my mind always thinks and obesses on things and won't let things go. So I fought with this for 3 weeks and then finally broke down in a store and felt as though I was going to lose complete control over myself and that I'd do something terrible without my ability to control it. I then went home and took a sedative and things were fine again I then woke up again at 5am with the same feelings and started throwing up and felt I needed to get out of the house so I went to a hospital but when I got there I decided to come back, when I got home I took another sedative and was fine again. I then went to see my doctor and he put me on effexor which I really don't want to be taking medication, I have the fear that it won't let me be myself and it will make me feel different but I won't be the same person?? So if anyone could help me with those concerns, And after I had the 2 panic attacks I have had constant anxiety since and am unable to go certain places and even unable to go to work aftet the events in whcih a week before I was fine and now feel scared and beging to sweat, heart races etc. Anyways I just want to know if anyone has been through the same and any advide #1 on similiar situations #2 on beginning medication. Thanks alot