I wanted to add my thoughts to this thread... I've had panic attacks off and on since I was 16. Actually, I haven't had that many attacks, but my fear of attacks really kept me from living my life. Twice in my life, I was nearly housebound with fear of an attack. I have never taken meds. Since the time of that first attack 30 years ago, I have gone through large stretches of time with no attacks, no fear (like years of being panic/fear-free.)
Everyone is different. I've never taken meds because I've never felt that they addressed the real cause of the fear and attacks, and until I changed how I thought, the meds wouldn't help me. What did help me after the first housebound episode, was doing my own CBT (without realizing what it was.) I was 16, and it was in the 70s, and I had no way of researching what I should do. BUT.. I knew that I didn't want to spend the rest of my life in this tiny little world I'd set up for myself, dependent on everyone and feeling embarrassed. So, one day I walked out to the mailbox. Fine. The next day, I walked to the corner. Did that one a few times. Then, I walked a block. Did that a few times until it felt familiar. Was I scared? Yep! But I kept trying it until it felt comfortable and familiar. Then walked to a nearby restaurant, and did not go in.. just sat outside. Then went inside and asked for a to-go menu. Another time used the pay phone. And so on, until I was walking several blocks to the drug store and shopping. My own brand of CBT worked apparently, because it was only a few months later that I applied for, and got, a job hostessing at that restaurant I was afraid to go into!! I went several years like that, with no limitations.
When I hit a stressful point in my life, I had an attack and the fear came back. Not to the extent it had before, but I was making life decisions based upon my fear of an attack again! I found that for me, changing my life situation made a huge difference. There are many people who have these agoraphobic issues and panic issues when they feel trapped or or overwhelmed in their life.
So that has been my pattern in life. But with no meds. In the in-between years I have done everything the way someone without panic would. Had the most amazing experiences... but I've learned that when I shrink my world, and get out less and less, or am involved with someone that overpowers or controls me, I revert back to those fears. I am really enjoying this CBT program because it's so well structured, and reinforces the messages I give myself when trying to shed these lasting avoidance behaviors.
Only a doctor can tell you what med is right for you, OR if you need them at all. But.. if given the chance, I would highly recommend doing a CBT program like this first, because we often just need to train our thinking into stopping ourselves from talking us into an attack out of fear of an attack.
Hope that helps. Oh, right now I'm living a pretty full life... but using this program to really take care of those lingering fears that hold me back (like shopping in big box stores, public speaking, etc.) I know that my fear and avoidance of those things are holdovers and habits of mine now. I'm seeing results already in this CBT program, and am hopeful. I just can't stress enough that you'll want to look at your life and any control issues (aka, are you feeling controlled in any way?) as you work through this CBT program, or get into meds.
