Im on week two and I have been feeling in control for the last couple of days. My biggest challenge has been driving. Recently I feel that i was doing great, then all of the sudden yesterday i went to execise at the gym and thought myself into a panic attack because I was worried that my head didnt feel right. I ve noticed that if i have a panic attack one day that it has a tendency to spill over into the next day, so today I was taking my son to the doctor (for the first time in months usually his mom takes him)I set up for my brother to go with me because I'm fearful to be with my son and have an attack, but he wasnt at home like he was supposed to, so i set out by myself with my boy and had a level 10 panic attack. Does anyone feel that they are doing well then regress from time to time, this is so frustrating!

Hey Billynapkin it happens to me all the time I have had panic attacks for 6 years and I have days weeks even that I feel great not thinking or worrying about a thing then something happens takes me out of my safe zone and then I start all over again believe me its not fun. I hate it. I work around sick people all day long so that doesnt help either. Ok I hope I helped some remember your not in this alone!

Don't give up. You described my last 2 days. I don't know how I made it through work, or even into work, today. I had that spontaneous surge of symptoms last night. I felt like I was overtired and overwired at the same time. My body kept giving me mixed signals. I paced, took a shower (that always helps me), listened to the relaxation CD until I fell asleep. In the morning I got up with that anxious feeling hovering over me, and it never went away for the day. I felt like I was going to lose it every couple of hours. I was actually hoping for a busy day, to keep my mind off of things, but the down time was no fun. I downloaded my CD sessions into my iPod, and listened when ever I could. I felt very proud and accomplished to go through the day (like a zombie) but stuck to it without working myself up, until it was time to go home. I have a 50 min drive home, and just heard we might be having another hurricaine this week (gotta love South Florida!). Let's just say the long drive home, watching the dark clouds and lightening, was more of a challenge than the day. Then I thought "enough is enough. I'm tired of feeling hostage to my fear of Panic attacks." Alone in the car, I screamed to the top of my lungs. My fear changed to anger. I refused to keep feeding / fueling my fear. It worked! As of tonight, I'm OK. I recommend that release of energy (just don't know if you really want to do it in front of your child, unless you tell him it's a screaming contest). Best of luck to the 3 of us. Nursekr... what helps you at work?

Up and down is the way the road to recovery happens. I've had this disorder for 2 1/2 years and did the program at the end of 2006. In the beginning I never thought I'd get over it. Now I rarely have a level 10 attack. I still get them, but they are more like level 2. I have learned to manage them and not let them scare me. Remember that everyone moves at their own pace. Don't beat yourself up if you aren't moving as fast as you want to be. I also know what its like to get them with my son. For a long time I was afraid to be alone with him and get one. But now I know its no big deal and I can manage it if I do. You will get better and don't worry if you have setbacks. They will just start to become further and further apart until one day you will say, Gee I haven't had a panic attack in a long time. Stick with the program, it works!

yes, I noticed i was doing very well yesterday. I just started the program and i was learning to handle panick attaks when I went to a school function for my daughter, I was around a lot of people. I stareted to get nervous and tired I could feel an attack ready to come on so I recognized it did the exercise of breathing, evaluated my situation, went home to put the relaxation tape and I was ok, then today I had company over all day but I didn't have the heart to tell her i want to be alone and i have to dio things so when she finally left i went to town and got into a mess that now has me panicked. I too do not understand how we can do so good and then do something that might be wrong. Then it happens again and we fall right back into condemnation, regret,and then we start with the anxiety. help i need help with this please

Thank you all for the words of encouragement today i did pretty well I didnt even really have a severe attack all day, a few flare ups but i handled them quite well. I think that you all are right, as long as i am continuing to work on getting better i feel that i will be able to beat this disorder. Jumpy i think you had a great idea sometimes i do scream at the anxiety and i vow to win against it, i makes me feel like i have the edge and not the anxiety. I feel so fortunate to have everyone here and the program, i really had been feeling alone, now i know i have friends that understand my stuggle.