Dear Tony~
I'm not that surprised the psychologist says you are doing the right things -you are. Grief for what may happen and apprehension about the future is something that is to be expected, and psych's by and large tend to be for other matters. I guess I'd expect specific help on the panic attacks, and how to deal with them though.
In my case, no they did not happen at specific times unless an event was always happening at a particular time. I used to get them in anticipation of events, like even going to see my psych could bring one on.
I guess they became less frightening as time went on, the lost some of thier power and I tried with more and more success ot persevere which whatever it was I was doing when it started -not giving in to it as it were. I wonder if that makes sense?
So if I was making the bed for example I'd continue to try to spread the sheets and blankets neatly - true, it may have ended up all rumpled, but the trying helped. Made me feel I was not just a passenger but was starting ot have some control. That plus breathing by numbers so I did not hyperventilate (something that does make the experience worse).
Starting on a small dose is good, that way there is plenty of extra in reserve if you need it and you are not inadvertently being given too much. Is you GP pretty sensible?
Now this might should like a silly idea but it seems from what you have been saying that you wake up to a PA. Also that they can happen at roughly the same time. Waking up to one is disorienting as well as even frightening, so what do you think would happen if you arranged to wake yourself up well in advance and have a cuppa? Maybe that might help or at least dampen down part of the effect if it starts.
Silly Ideas R Us Croix
if you want specific help
Even so a bit of advice on the pac=nic attacks might have been in order.is a hu
