dont want to be a pill popper

i have all of a sudden starting experiencing panic attacks and it has been really getting to me. i seen a doctor who i work with and he prescribed me xanix. i have taken it the last couple of nights just so i could put myself to sleep for longer than 3 hours. i dont want to get myself hooked on taking meds but it has been the only way i can get any sleep. it has really helped me sleep but i still wake up in fear. what are some other ways that i can get sleep w/o taking meds? ive tried herbal pills, teas, etc. nothing seems to work. any thoughts??

[bjfoste1]

dude i like my xanax you crazy man lol

[greenlydia]

When you say that you have "suddenly" started having panic attacks, there is a reason for that. Can you think back to what was going on in your life when you had your first "attack?" If you can isolate what the trigger was and deal with it, you may not need the Xanax. This doctor that you work with and who put you on Xanax may have done you a temporary service by relieving your anxiety and allowing you to get some sleep, but he missed the boat, in my opinion, by not telling you to find a therapist to help you get to the root of the anxiety. I also think he should have thought twice about starting you on a potent med like Xanax when a more mild one could have possibly worked just as well. If you are waking up in fear, even after the Xanax has allowed you to sleep well, than THAT is what you should be focusing on more than the sleep issue.
You are very wise to be cautious about meds, and you need to very cautious with the Xanax. Get off that as soon as possible!
If you have your own doctor, I urge you to take these issues to him/her. Since the anxiety came on so suddenly, and if you don't have a history of anxiety, I think you would be able to "recover" very quickly.
Please don't just settle for the Xanax masking the real problem.
Peace
Greenlydia