I'm relatively new to this site after finally seeking out help for this crippling anxiety I feel. Dry heaving, shaking, hyperventilating, panic, fear of talking to strangers. I hate doctors, but was finallly encouraged enough by a counselor to go see one. She suggeseted that my symptoms were caused by a daily withdrawal of alcohol--I had told her that I do enjoy a few drinks each night with dinner--and she prescribed somethign to deal with that, and hesitated prescribing anti-anxiety meds. I also thought she was quite chilly on a personal level. I know alcohol is certainly not health food, but it is the only thing that controls this panic. I never thought alcohol was the problem. Now I'm terrified that this cycle is just somethign i must live with. I have taken prozac for at least a year, with no difference. Has anyone had an experience like this? Can someone convince me there are kind doctors that can help?

Sophie,

I've looked at your post for a few days, I very much understand the anguish you are going through, and unsympathetic doctors. Many are very hesitant to prescribe true anti-anxiety medications, most will offer anti-depressants first, the true reason most, is this is what they are hearing " I have a few drinks every night"-they consider that self-medicating the panic, and are fearful if they did prescribe anti-anxiety, it won't stop the drinking, which can cause the medicine to become very potent with alcohol. Thus having potential for disaster to get the panic under control. They will assess behaviors in the past and in the family, any alcoholism, etc. to determine your risk of being able to not medicate with alcohol if given such meds.

This is not my personal experience, but I have encountered many a PD sufferer whom is met with your same experience. Even though having a few drinks currently helps, it actually exsaperberates the panic more, as you get very limited control at only certain times of the day or night, and the next day, your body is craving it to control it more.