Hey all,

I've been recently diagnosed with Panic Disorder.
I've been taking Ativan for two weeks now and had zero anxiety and panic attacks.

Saturday I started Lexapro as well. I've read in several places that this can increase anxiety at first. I've had no side effects except a very mild headache and mild nausea.

Last night I felt the dreaded feeling. It was happening. Light headed, short of breath, pounding heart. A panic attack. 

At first I got scared. I was in the living room with my daughter. I quickly got up and changed my clothes into pj's while talking to my daughter. It passed. I was left feeling nauseated and shaking.

I went to bed and tried to sleep. Not happening. My heart was racing, I was feeling short of breath. I closed my eyes and tried to maintain deep, constant breathing. Then the second one came so I just rode through it by breathing deeply . Then the third wave hit. The 4th was worse as I had vertigo as well and my first instinct was to jump out of bed, but I just let myself feel it and kept breathing. Then a 5th, 6th smaller waves and I finally fell asleep. 

All this without freaking out completely. I just let myself feel it without fighting back, except keeping my breathing constant.. I have to go to work now and I dread having another one there where I cannot control my surroundings but I will try to apply the same technique. 

Not long ago my aunt called an ambulance while I was having a severe panic attack. They hooked me up to a heart rate monitor and O2 monitor. When I felt like I couldn't breathe I could see with my own eyes that my oxygen saturation was at 98-99%.

"It's just a sensation" the doctor said. "Keep breathing. You *can* breathe". I remember her reassuring, calm, loving eyes telling me that. 

I have a few more days until my body adjusts to the new med. Holding on until then.