Thanks everyone for your help.

i'm not sure these will work for you, but there are a few things i try and do when i'm heading in for an appointment. one of the things that have worked best for me is to try and write down what's going on. what the issues i'm having are, what happens, what triggers them (if anything), and what i've already tried to do to help myself and whether they've worked or not. having a list of what i need to address really helps for me, and having some responses ready for things that i know haven't worked for me but they might encourage me to try tends to stop me from just sitting there and nodding my head and not getting anything out of my appointments. another thing i try and do is fire myself up a little bit prior to the appointment. just reminding myself of what i've been through with my mental health, and how it's negatively impacting my life. try to keep in mind that you shouldn't have to feel incapacitated by your anxiety when there are plenty of coping techniques and medications out there that can benefit you, and that by going to see your doctor you're taking steps in the right direction to find what works for you. you've taken the initiative, and your doctor shouldn't try and write it off or halfass trying to help you. from what you've said, it sounds like you're going to your general doctor instead of someone specializing in mental health/anxiety. while some general doctors can do a great job and can help you with your mental health, others are less effective. if you're at your appointment and you realize he's not doing a great job at helping you, you can always ask for references. i'm not sure if you're involved in anything for your anxiety now, but most doctors should be able to point you towards therapists/psychologists in your area, which may be more helpful to you. if he's reluctant in giving them to you, which he might be as he seems to have a history of trying to get around serious issues, try asking a receptionist or calling back at a later date. a google search can give you a list of those in your area, but in my opinion getting a recommendation from a professional helps make sure that you're getting someone who's reputable and really can help you. good luck with your appointment!

I second myth's idea that you might want someone who specializes in mental health and anxiety. I don't ever bother going to my general doctor about mental illness related stuff because they often know it all in a theory basis but psychologists/therapists know it on a practiced and experienced level. The advice on keeping a notebook on when panic attacks happen, what triggers them, and things that have worked in the past is a great idea too. It helps to find trends and etc (I keep a mood log for that very reason).

Best of luck!

general practitioners aren't usually the doctors you'd want to see in regards to mental health issues, so when you go to your appointment, i recommend asking them for referrals to local specialists who have the knowledge to understand your problem. but considering your past experience with them, the idea of keeping a running list of your symptoms and their severity really helps to assert the fact that you have a problem you need addressed, especially if your doctor is hesitant to give you a referral. i really don't like the fact that he's had the "do x and you'll be cured" mindset, because that kind of knowledge can't really be applied to mental illnesses and sometimes it isn't solved by just a pill. tbh, it might be a good idea to switch doctors. if you have health insurance, you can often go to your provider's website and they'll have a searchable database of local doctors that are covered. combined with that, if you research potential doctors and read their reviews, it'll really help you find a doctor that's actually helpful, haha.

regardless, definitely get a referral to find a specialized professional in treating/diagnosing mental illnesses, and don't let anyone tell you that "breathing exercises," etc. are a cure-all. the severity of your anxiety definitely warrants a serious response, and you deserve professional help! i wish you luck :^)

as someone who has similar HA issues I wish you the best of luck. TBH with what you've said about your doctor I'd ask for a referral to a psychiatrist who may be able to better direct you towards help.

Thanks to all of you for the advice! To my surprise he actually took it seriously and has recommended me to psychiatrist to get help before they consider medications so I'm relieved.

that's very good to hear!! i wish you luck with your new psychiatrist and hope they can solve your anxiety. ♥

Glad to hear it! Not sure what the policy is here for linking to other sites on the boards, but if you want to PM me, I know of a great online support forum for health anxiety as well.