Hi Donna, I do not have CAH either but have suffered form panic attacks and depression for most of my life. One shrink told me I was bi-polar too but I have a hard time excepting that. I never had the manic episodes he described, just the depression. Many members of my family have had times of depression as well and I believe it is hereditary in my case.

I understand what it feels like when a panic attack hits you. You feel like you are going to die and there is no one who can help you. Your knees get weak, your heart races, your head spins and you can’t breathe. I’ll never forget when I was driving to the store one day and I had one. I can’t even remember how I ever got home.

Your body has a natural fight/flight mechanism and when a panic attack comes your brain goes a little out of whack and can’t decide which one to use. I too used xanex for a while but realized a tranquilizer wouldn’t help me in the long run. I take 20mg of prozac now and that seems to do the trick.

Have you had any recent life changes? I think that can trigger the attacks. I know when I got married and bought a house and had kids, each of those would bring on the symptoms. I had a severe bout of depression in jr. high and also when I was pregnant with my first child.

I know how hard it can be to talk about this but feel free to e-mail me. Sometimes just knowing someone understands can help.