I never had true "anxiety attacks" until I was in my mid-twenties, up until that point, I really thought I was good and even excelled under pressure. The attacks were absolutely incapacitating. Unfortunately, being "wound up tight" seems to be a family trait of mine. My father still has anxiety/panic problems. He admittedly is overwhelmed sometimes by catastrophic thinking. The funny thing is, he has always been the best guy to go to when the chips are down and the heat is on. However, he never took medication and refuses to do so. I'm still prescribed benzos and an anti-depressant by my doctor. Frankly, I don't mind taking the anti-depressant as needed when I feel "the black days" coming on. However, I think UA Iron has a point......I never liked the idea that I was taking benzos, which are powerful psychiatric meds, to help me "cope" with things. Sure, anxiety and panic attacks can be miserable, but doctors throw them out to patients like nothing. The benzos can be horribly addictive, definitely impact short-term memory, and you develop a tolerance to the pills quickly. Has anyone ever seen someone in withdrawl from benzos, it can cause delerium tremens (DT) similar to what chronic alcoholics suffer when they stop drinking abruptly. Not something you want to mess with. Sorry, went on a little rant there. Don't take the benzos anymore.