I know I haven't posted in this forum as of yet, but just wanted to say, I totally relate. My panic attacks started 30 yrs ago too. I am gluten intolerant and the intolerance had me so sick, I feel it started the panic. You know what I mean, anticipatory anxiety..I worried if I could do something, what if I couldn't and ruined it for the rest of my family, that sort of thing. I hated eating out, it was too hard for me..I had to be near the door, near the bathroom, away from the smokers, couldn't eat this, couldn't eat that...was just too much, so the panic would hit.
I started out on Xanax, which 4 times a day kept me in bed. Then the doc said to take as needed, but when it seemed I needed it too much, they tried me with Paxil, which I did take for a lot of years. When I weaned myself off it, I was taking 40mgs a day. Once we figured out the gluten issue and I went gluten free, the panic became less and less. Gluten doesn't only effect our digestive systems, it attacks the brain.
Still, to this day I have occasional panic. I keep Xanax with me at all times. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia a month ago and the doc put me on 3 meds. Big mistake, I should of taken one at a time to make sure there were no side effects, now I can't be sure which one made me so sick. My first symptom, severe panic, like I haven't had in years. The panic hit seemly without cause, but the meds proved to be the villain. I have taken more Xanax in the last few weeks than I have taken in a couple of years.
So, yes I understand panic seemly over nothing.