I've been medication-free for 15 years. Sometimes, I still have panic attacks when I'm tired or stressed, but they last only about 30 seconds. But now I don't care if I have one or not. Many people will develop major depression in reaction to their anxiety disorder . Part of the reason is because we feel powerless and our lives become so restricted as a result of the disorder.
Recovery means learning to take back our own power from the disorder.
We use meditation to help us relax and then use a mindfulness technique. This technique teaches us to become aware of the intimate relationship between our thoughts and the body's response, which are our anxiety symptoms. Once we are aware and can see the relationship very clearly, we can then begin to lose the fear and begin to realize we have a choice in our thinking. I overcame it by learning to change the way of thinking that was causing the fear of the fear. Not having the power, or control, over my thoughts is what were causing it all.