Misunderstood is the best word I can think of to describe Anxiety, Panic Attacks and any other form of Mental Illness.
Although those of us who suffer from any of these disorders feel isolated and alone, there are far more of us than anyone would care to admit.
Agoraphobics are unseen, hidden away behind closed doors, and there are Hundreds of Thousands of them.
Those who suffer Panic Attacks don't go shouting it from the rooftops.

I have suffered from Panic Attacks since 1969 and it has left me isolated and alone.
I have recently had to re-confront this problem after having it under control (More or Less) for over 30 years.
On 13th Feb 2008 I had the first of what turned out to be the first of Two Heart attacks, I managed to recover OK from the the first, but not from the second Six days later.

I ended up in hospital feeling totally lost.
But the worst thing, as far as I was concerned, was the immediate withdrawal of what had been my saviour, a drug called Clomiparmine. The reason given was that there was a contra indication with the drug and a heart attack.
The problem was that nothing was offered to replace it.
Can you imagine suddenly being deprived of the one thing that had kept you sane for so many years, with no replacement, just total withdrawal. It came as a physical and emotional hammer blow.
Add this to Nicotine withdrawal, Sleeping Tablet withdrawal and you have a recipe for disaster, and I haven't even mentioned the shock of the Heart attack.

Continued in Part 2…