Share your story with anxiety and panic

I posted this on the bipolar thread but I want to get to know people who have anxiety too, and I mostly suffer from anxiety than hypomania. So here ya go:
I'm 18, from Michigan, just got right out of high school and into my first year of college. As a child I had some separation anxiety, but it was never too bad that I couldn't function. Then in 5th grade I got OCD, though it was undiagnosed for three more years. At 13 I became severely depressed and that lasted for about two years. My freshman year of high school was alright, but in the middle of the year things started to fall apart again and then for the rest of high school it was a huge roller coaster. I was originally diagnosed with depression, but in my junior year they suspected that I might have a mild case of bipolar because I started to have some hypomania. I was hospitalized in late April of my junior year because of a serious mania episode. It took me the whole summer to get calm again, and all summer to finish my schoolwork. A year later in my senior year I got back in the hospital. I've been in therapy for four years and have been to three different counselors. The one I'm currently with is pretty good. She kind of chooses the topic though to talk about, but she makes me laugh.
High school was okay for me, but I hated the drama and gossip. Especially senior year, where girls were carrying it on over the stupidest stuff...I was like, we're graduating soon, why are we still fighting? College seems to be better with that, in high school I was extremely shy, I think I might have social anxiety disorder, and whenever I tried to talk to someone for a conversation they'd look at me or give me this vibe as if they were saying, Why are you even talking to me? But college is different, people are more open-minded and accepting. The only class that seems to be like high school is my Spanish class, which even though it's second year Spanish it's still full of freshmen who just can't seem to get over themselves. There are some people in the class though that are older and more mature, so I talk to them.
I've also had a terrible romantic encounter, I posted it in the anxiety thread, just to put it short an ex really messed me up psychologically that every night I have nightmares about him killing my family and they're very vivid.
Things have gotten better, I still have anxiety though and I switch from depression to hypomania, but for the most part I'm finally starting to get things under control. It's kind of scary though, this is exactly what happened freshman year of high school and things fell apart again, so I'm hoping this won't happen again...but we'll see. I think it's great that I found a forum with people who are going through what I'm going through and people I can relate to. I'm just hoping people won't judge me since I'm young and just out of high school, I consider myself mature for my age but that's just me. And the people here seem very nice and understanding from what I've seen.

Honest, we don't bite! I promise..
I'll get the ball rolling okay? My name is Meg and I'm 34, live in south australia and have lived with anxiety in some form all my life. I had night terrors as a young child and was always an anxious soul. I had my first panic attack at 17 (in the bath tub no less!!) and suffered from severe anxiety and panic attacks through most of my twenties. At one stage I was on 6-8mg of xanax a day and was, to all intents and purposes, a zombie. I have been on 11 different anti-depressents (none worked for me - I am anti-dep resistant) and seen a great deal of doctors, therapists and psychologists/psychiatrists. I have been hospitalised in the past for anxiety.
The turning point came for me in my late twenties when I quit drinking (my first attmpt - it took a while), started CBT therapy, started exercising every day and decided I was going to beat this disorder (or at least learn to live a happier life with it). I don't have panic attacks much any more and when I do, I short circuit them very quickly. I listen to my doctors, but I challenge them if I don't agree. I make sure my mental and physical health is my priority.
These days I laugh a lot more. Spend a great deal more time out of bed instead of hiding in it. I work, study, volunteer and stay extremely busy. I recently finished my second marathon and I am so proud.
If I can get out of the grips of anxiety, anyone can, believe that you can do it, take the steps you need to (no matter how small they may seem at first)..it may seem impossible at times, and I still have my bad days, and yes my bad weeks, but I keep putting one foot in front of the other. Every single day.
I welcome all our new members, if you feel comfortable share a little with us..we support one another and gain strength together.
Meg

Hey freezerburn,
Thanks for introducing yourself I'll admit we do have more women than men on this site, but the guys we do have are all fantastic.
So you plan to become a doctor? A doctor who has suffered through panic attacks, what a great asset you will be to the medical field. I wish you all the best of luck with that.
I love Soccer too (well I enjoy watching it..not the getting in the mud part) what team (s) do you support?
Meg

Hi Jazzy,
Welcome to HW, and thanks for introducing yourself. I'm studying to be a counsellor and I still can't counsel myself! It seems it's so much easier to be objective when it's not you having the attacks/feelings.
Moving house is an extremely stressful event. I can't stand that feeling of being out of control of things, or having my home base, my "safe place" being turned upside down and run through with strangers. Add a teenager to the equation and it is little wonder you are having a high anxiety episode.
What have you done in the past that has helped? Sometimes we forget the techniques that are best for us and just need to slow down and start utilising them again. I look forward to getting to know you better, and again, welcome.
Meg