I have a self help book - the panic attacks workbook and the concept is facing your fears which in turn takes the power away from the panic and back in your hands. My fear is driving and I for e myself to face that fear everyday - no choice really got to get to work and pay the bills. Sounds to me like you have already won half the battle since you are not afraid of the panic. That's great! As we all know panic doesn't last forever. Normally how long does the typical panic attack last for you? I would imagine that it would be the same. Just face your fears in baby steps. Hopefully your therapist talked it through with you and gave you small goals to work towards. Just be kind to yourself while you are going through this. Best of luck!

I think your therapist gave you great advice.

You know, back when I was panicking all the time, I think I was similar to you. I was afraid of my panicking, but my bigger concern was that perhaps what I was experiencing was a break from reality and that I would never get back to being my "old self". I was afraid the panic would never stop. It didn't matter how many times I panicked, and then eventually calmed down.......the next time I panicked, I still worried about the same thing. But over time, I slowly realized that nobody can panic forever. And that even when I was panicking.....I was still myself. Panicking was just me expressing a feeling. No different than an anger episode or a laughing episode or an episode why I cried hysterically for an hour. I didn't fear those, so why should I fear a panic episode?

And I realized that it didn't matter how long I panicked for...when it was all said and done.....I was still going to be myself after I stopped. Just more tired and wiped out because of my "fear tantrum". That is all panic attacks are....just big old fear tantrums.

So I started to think to myself...."What is the point of panicking?" What does it accomplish? And then I started to fear panicking less, which made me fear panicking less and eventually I couldn't care less anymore if I panicked because I started seeing it as just a huge waste of my time. Just wasted energy. And I am a mom of 5 now and don't want to use my energy for anything more than I have to! lol

Now, after I read that back to myself, it probably seems like it doesn't make sense, but I meant to say everything I said....but you may have to read it a few times to figure it out....lol.

Before I had come to this epiphany....which was really not too long ago actually, just within the last few years.......I used a different method to stop panicking. And that was to try to completely surrender to the panic whenever I felt the feelings start to rise. I would say "OK, here we go....let's get ready to panic! Panic....come and get me and do your worst....I am ready!" And then I no longer wanted to panic. In order to panic, you have to be scared. And it really helps you panic even more when you are scared of being scared. Giving myself permission to panic, and actually encouraging myself to panic always stopped the panic immediately. Like I had been exorcised or something.

So to make a very long story short....and to answer the question you actually asked....lol.....once I faced my fears....I basically didn't panic anymore at all.

I make myself do things even though I am very afraid and anxious. I have gotten better with facing fears. It isn't easy but things have got to get done and I don't want anxiety to rob me from living. I know avoidance of doing things is not the way to live.

I think once we face and do those things that we fear the more we do them the anxiety lessons. panic loses its grip on us.

Also you will be able to tell yourself
' I have done this before, I got through it last time and I can do it again and it's no big deal'

Your confidence will build too as you think upon your successes.

If you find yourself having an attack just know that you aren't going to die, you aren't having a heart attack, it's just physical sensations within your body and just allow them to run their course, don't make them bigger than they are, breathe and talk yourself through it 'I can do this, it's just an anxiety attack, it will go, it always go away"
and it does, doesn't it?

I like Lilygirl's second to last paragraph. I've found exactly the same thing to be true. If you say, "OK, Come on and give me your worst" to panic - it totally diffuses it. Just like she said, If you're not afraid, you can't panic. - stillearning57

Thank you all :) It is so nice to be able to have the support of all of you and to know some of you have done this as well. I am going to do this. I am also going to start a journal and keep track while I am doing this just so I can look back if I back slide and maybe it will help get me back on track if needed. I think thursday is going to be one of the days I face the fear of driving away from home. Well driving a distance that is. It will be about an hour drive one way on the interstate. I have done it before and I will do it again. I forgot to add I talked with my therapist about also lowering my meds and slowly maybe coming off of them. What a grea feeling that would be. Anyway I am not going to rush it, I am going to take baby steps so I dont set myself up for failure. I love you all and thanks for your support!!!!