Hi all, my name is Ashleigh, and I am new to this site. My dad also has panic attacks, and has referred me to this site. I have been working on session 1 and 2 for the past two weeks, and have been reading some of the postings on this site and finally decided to also post. I have just suddenly started having panic attacks. For about 4 years, 2 years ago, I was very depressed and my doctor placed me on effexor. The medication helped, and for the past few years I have been trying to get off of the medication. My doctor thinks that the reason I am experiencing these attacks is partially because I lowered the dosage of my effexor - so now, because of the panic's I have been having, he has put the dosage back up. Not only that, but I have quit smoking recently, and have quit having any caffiene in my diet - all cold turkey - and I have been exercising a lot. However, I am still a little on edge most days. I work ten day stretches, which is something new that I have been doing, and perhaps that is why I have been experiencing these attacks - I don't really know. All I do know is that I am so frustrated, and confused and I need to get rid of feeling anxious all the time. I hope that this site helps me.