Panic Attacks?

[emptyinside]

I realized I will have to go to this one place I've never been to except with my loved one. I can't get out of it, and I was just picturing myself there, what it was like last time, and it dawned on me that the last time I went there it was before he died. I had a panic attack at the thought. Somehow it just renews the grief in my head, so now I feel a little like I did after he died. Panic, shortness of breath, chest pains, feeling of being lost and stranded. If I'm having panic attacks at the thought of the place, I wonder how it will be for real? Has anyone successfully overcome their panic attacks either through prescriptions or otherwise? I'd love to hear people's stories.

[Lostdaughter]

Panic attacks are scary and I've had them. In fact, in anticipation of my Dad's funeral I just panicked at the thought of both the plane ride there and the funeral. I went to my MD and he was nice and gave me a little something to help. Without that little something I don't know that I would have been able to attend the funeral. I know it's quite common that people take something in these situations.

I know lots of people who have scripts for panic attacks. As long as they are only used as necessary and not on a regular basis, people do just fine with them. Other people learn to overcome their attacks via densensitization, but that can require time, money and often a therapist. Obviously, if this is a one time thing you are fearing, I'd opt for a little something to get you through it. Just my opinion and I am not a Dr, but I also know that a little something allowed me to attend my dad's funeral.

Caveat though - if there will be several places you have to go that will be first times alone, then I might think about counseling instead.