I take Xanax on an as needed basis. Very low dose and it works. Not a daily regimen at all.

I'm on a mild dose of Prozac for anxiety.... works great for me (as does the wine in the evenings and once a month massages)

I had a horrible job once with an A$$h0le boss that caused panic attacks and anxiety and my doctor put me on the generic for Zoloft. It did help a lot. I don't remember having too many issues with side effects.

Once DH and I got engaged, I started suffering from severe anxiety and panic attacks. I took xanax for a bit and that helped. I learned how to deal with the situation better. But ya I was fine until Step Hell.

I'm not sure what advice I'd offer you. I'm prone to stress-related migraines more than anxiety attacks, and sometimes when the step stuff is particularly bad I get multiple visual episodes (although not always the headache part, thank god!). There really isn't a med for me (at least none that I know of), so what I try to do is get some chunk of time to think about everything, and another chunk of time to do something just for me.

For example, when SDthen17 got pregnant last year there was A LOT of Drama coming from freaking everywhere. Stressful. The migraine crap started. So I told DH, "OK, Friday night the two of us are going out to dinner and we will talk about ALL of this crap. Saturday afternoon I'm going to get a mani/pedi." For me, having a designated time to talk and think about it did two things - one, I could get it ALL out. (And you can do this with anyone, doesn't have to be your DH if that's just going to cause more stress!) But also, it allowed me NOT to worry about it until then. I knew I was going to get Friday night for that, so if it crept into my head Thursday morning I just told myself, "Tomorrow. You'll deal with all of it tomorrow." and then I could concentrate on something else. Then the "me time" was total unwind time.

I'm sorry. It kind of sounds stupid and obvious, I'm sure you've thought of this before. Sorry I don't have anything better!!

Sometimes your body needs an outside influence to help you to 'reset'. I think for you, meds might be a great option to try for a week or two to see if they can trigger you to wind down a bit.

I think what can so easily happen is that our minds get into survival/panic mode... and then our wonderful ability to analyze gets out of control and we stay in that mode while we worry about what has happened, what might happen, what should have happened, etc etc. And the whole time, our bodies are responding like the danger is right in front of us.

So you have to give your mind a break, so that your body can start to rest. But you have to give it a week or two so that your body can let all the tension and stress go... so that your mind won't just jump in where it left off.

Just my thoughts...

Ativan worked really well for me during a rough patch, when things were falling apart with my ex and I would have panic attacks just seeing him. Took the edge off enough for me to see clearly.

I was having panic/anxiety attacks due to the whole BM, MIL, exH skid issue plus the deaths of my Aunt and SIL within two weeks and my father's failing health. I finally went to the Dr in the midst of the deaths and I'll health and she has me on Celexa and I have Xanax for as needed. I have had to take a few of them (mostly when I first started the Celexa since it takes a month to be regulated in your system) and I still take one occasionally when I can't sleep. I've noticed since starting the Celexa I don't have those attacks nearly as often. Occasionally...but not that often. And I feel I'm less apt to stress out and lash out or be angry. I'm much more even keeled.

Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do. Hope you come to a decision that works for you

I started having anxiety attacks in my early 20's it always happens when something stressful is going on in my life...was able to be off meds for years but of course, due to SD16 crap... back on them again about 6 months ago.

My first drug was Paxil. Definitely worked, but caused me to gain about 40 pounds over 5 years and God forbid if you forget to take it one day, it makes you feel like the world is spinning. Tried Lexapro and didn't like that either, gave me the same loopy feeling as Paxil if I forgot to take.

Dr. finally switched me to Wellbutrin which is wonderful. Zero side effects whatsoever, very safe, been around forever. I was told that I could even take it while pregnant with BS5 (I opted not to just because)

I also learned a redirection technique in therapy. when I start to feel that panic coming on, that pit of the stomach, chest crushing feeling, I redirect my thoughts to something that requires focus (writing or browsing on the computer seem to help me the most),and I can generally get it to go away within 5 minutes.

I am hoping that when/if SD16 leaves in the next week or so that I can get back to "normal" and just be happy instead of panicky and stressed.

Low dose of Sertraline and just added low dose of wellbutrin to help with hot flashes and menopause irritability

I take Xanax ER (extended release) every day to control my panic disorder.

I married my DH, who spawned three times before I knew him, almost two years ago, right after I turned 41.

I never had any anxiety problems before I began to live in the unnatural world of stepdom. I don't think that's a coincidence.

The Surgeon General should create a series of public health warnings, maybe in the form of a card carried by all men who have spawned, like the ones on cigarette packaging.

Antihistamine (especially Singulair) cause anxiety attacks (and weight gain).

When my ex left I was on ADs for 2 years. His decision was sudden and within a week he left the country. It certainly helped me cope with day to day life. And when I wanted to try life without them I weaned myself off over 1 month. One days bout 6 months later I had a REALLY bad day and it brought up all kinds of ghosts so I took just half tablet. I was knocked off my arse! So having the ADs on board definitely made sense for while and obviously I needed them at the time.

So I would say 'as needed' would be a start.

I started drinking more and realized that wasn't the right answer for me. I read through the first few responses and I think you got some great advice.. Some I may try to fit into my own situation.

I am really sorry for all that you are going through and I hope it gets better for you.