Hi Ashley,
Thanks for your encouragement.
I've been going through a lot the past couple years, physically and mentally. My pregnancy was tough mentally -- I went from a double major in college and a great job, to being a full-time mom -- my daughter was a surprise. I was not married yet. I had many struggles during my pregnancy, losing friends, and my boyfriend (at the time -- now my husband) had to travel back and forth a lot, leaving me at home often -- sometimes for a month at a time.
Then, we moved about a year ago, from west coast to east coast. It's been a really tough transition -- I'm very close to my family, none of which live here. I've had a hard time making friends, and I have to be home a lot, since my husband works so much. I don't get a lot of time for myself, and I often feel isolated. I've lost a ton of weight -- due to breastfeeding, and not eating enough due to anxiety and depression. I'm trying to get back on track though! Protein shakes, snacking often, etc.
I've never had panic symptoms before my first attack, although I've dealt with GAD previously. I used to have anxiety attacks, but they went away after I started taking Zoloft and I employed some anxiety-reducing techniques. I stopped taking zoloft maybe 4 or 5 years ago, and have since started back up to treat my panic disorder, along with xanax.
I also have GERD (hiatal hernia, gastritis, esophogitis) & scoliosis, and my doctor suspects that my GERD may be adding (or triggering?) my panic.
Panic is an obstacle that I'm ready to tackle -- it's just scary that the symptoms are there all day every day, Unlike anxiety disorder, which would surface every now and again and became very manageable. With panic I feel like something is very, very wrong with my body -- except no one can find anything wrong.
Anyhow -- I've written alot! I hope to hear more from everybody, hopefully my story can be comforting as everyone else's stories have been to me.