This is my first post. I’ve had anxiety and panic attacks for about nine years. During two of those years, it was a lot more acute than it is now. I had panic attacks almost daily after having my second child.

During one particularly bad panic attack, I had heart palpitations so severe I went to the doctor. She diagnosed me for the first time with anxiety and prescribed Zoloft &amp; Xanax (as needed.) That was almost two years ago and I haven’t touched either one.

My panic attacks have mostly subsided, but I still deal with the weight of anxiety every single day. I have a lot of trauma in my past, including my son having a stroke as a toddler and now dealing with all the recovery of that. He also has a complex, scary medical condition. 

I want to start Zoloft, but I’m nervous something bad will happen. I have so many physical side effects of anxiety and I’m constantly worried I have some undiagnosed health condition that Zoloft will aggravate.