Please be careful to take the words of our fellows here. While they may be completely good-minded, their advices may not suitable to your circumstances.

Panic attack is different from anxiety disorder. Both of which are mental illnesses. I cannot imagine how is the condition of your friend but it is not easy for a 3rd party to identify unless you are a trained doctor.

Environment usually plays a role in triggering such illnesses. Even though you are on the right medication (please get used to changes in medication as specialists are themselves experimenting with various drugs to find a right balance which work), a way to harmonically work with your environment must be found.

To answer your question about whether taking medication will make her worse. As said earlier, it is a form of illness. I hope you have done enough reading on this. As in all form of illnesses, medication is frequently used for treatment. What is of concerned is the side effects. The side effects can be weakness and drowsiness in milder forms. If you are able to find a way to handle the causes better and do without medication, then do so. Don't take too long.

I will not waste much effort and money in the clinic if no result is seen after a while. It is better to treat the illness early rather than later. I would go straight to a psychiatrist. I would also work on ways to relax myself and deal with the environment.

All the best!

This post has been edited by jerry88: Dec 29 2012, 03:13 PM