Best medication for social phobia/bad panic attacks - please help!

[sadandbad]

I've been having really bad panic attacks, mostly in social situations and especially making eye contact. This came on recently and I now find it hard to talk to my kids friends parents and things like talking to teachers is a nightmare as I start to tremble, get palpitations, feel like I am going to faint. It is totally irrational. I also get it in other situations sometimes when I am out in public at places like supermarkets or libraries. I just get this intense sense of panic and it's very much a physical thing.

Has anyone found any medication very good for this kind of issue? I've been reading a lot about it and there seem to be lots of conflicting reports on what is effective for social phobia/panic disorder.

Please let me know if you have found something that really helped you, I am desperate and don't want to become a hermit. It is so embarrassing and I feel awful!

[LastingLight]

That sounds really horrible sandandbad. Have you talked to a doctor yet? Counselling should also help.

[sadandbad]

Yes, talked to a Dr and already tried a few things that haven't worked (propronol and low doses of valium). I've also had CBT which was useless.

[gemdrop84]

Hi sad, sorry to hear about your panic attacks. I have been suffering since just before Christmas, brought on by depression/stress. I have managed to see my doctor who prescribed propronol and a small dose anti depressant. I'm hoping this will help. I have an app on my phone called stop panic and anxiety. It has a lot of articles/audios which helps me through an attack or for the general anxiety feelings I get. I have also joined the No More Panic website which has a forum, chat room, tons of articles and has generally been amazing. The people are welcoming and it has so much info about these matters. I hope you can find something that helps you.

[sadandbad]

I know about that forum. Thank you. Are you finding the anti-depressant helpful at all? There is so much conflicting information about which anti-depressants work at all for anxiety.

[gemdrop84]

Well it's my first day taking it so I'm not really sure, they seem to make me feel very spaced out and tired, I haven't felt anxious all day, just a bit numb really. So that makes a nice change tbh. Am going to see my doctor again in three weeks about the meds so time will tell. As he says there's no quick fix but as I've read, it's also finding the best thing that works for you. It's different for everyone, it seems.