I have experienced anxiety attacks for as long as I can remember. I have never sought help or advise, always having the feeling that this is just who I am, and I just need to get through the situation and move on. My social activity is mainly concentrated with family and very close friends. I am able to function in these situtations without much anxiety, but feel much more comfortable in situations with little social interaction.

My work in a manufacturing office environment. I enjoy my work as long as I am not placed into a position of having to address a large crowd. If this situation is forseen, maybe a presentation scheduled for the following day, I literally panic myself into a nervous wreck. I have actually lost my voice after a couple of sentences and struggled very nervously through the remaining presentation. I have not been able to improve this situation and feel very defeated when it occurs.

I think there is some chemical reason that this extreme panic consumes me. I function relatively well in my current social and work environment, but become very distressed that I can’t seem to overcome this nervousness or at least manage it to the point that it doesn’t negatively affect my life.

My feelings have real simularities to the feeling that you have expressed. I haven’t consulted a doctor about this problem yet, but just wanted to put myself out there to gain some experienced insights into ways to deal with this anxiety.