Question about Anxiety/Sleeping/Medications

I am a 22 year old college student and about 3 years ago, I had an anxiety attack out of the blue in my dorm and passed out. I brushed it off since I was so embarrassed. That is when my sleeping problems started. I would maybe get 5 hours a night and the next get a perfect 8 or 9. Only the nights of 5 hours came more and more frequent. And sometimes shorter. I have had only 2 other full blown attacks, which I hid, and have numerous small ones day after day. And over just little things. Like what to make for dinner for my family (I live at home, 7 people), or how to do my homework. Anxiety and depression run in my family; I contemplated suicide but went to the hospital for a stay instead, and my older brother takes medications for them. I have tried counseling, but it didn't help in the least.

But, I do not want to live my life dependent on medications. I know I won't be able to afford it anyway when I get out on my own. Does anyone have any suggestions about how to deal with all this? The Anxiety, Not Sleeping and the Medications?

Thanks so much!
Amy

[Paxiled]

First, try a different therapist.  This is most important if you're looking for a non-medicinal cure.  There are also natural remedies you can try.  For the sleep, you an try melatonin.  There's also a homeopathic remedy called Calm's Forte.  Just a couple of things you can try.  For anxiety, there's a whole lot you can try from the natural world of medicine.  Try a book called Natural Highs by Hyla Cass, a psychiatrist at UCLA for a run-through of some of what's out there and how to dose it.