is zoloft what i really need?

at the beginning of the year i began having panic attacks, and they got to the point where i drove myself to the emergency room. i have since been priscribed (prescribed) xanax and has helped a great deal. i have basically gotten my panic attacks under controle, but since then i have also developed an obsession over my health and have been back to the doctor several times just for peace of mind. i have had many and many clean bills of health, which has pretty much put an end to my obsession over my health. after realizing that perhaps my problem isnt physical, i decided to see a phycologyst. he has helped me rationalize and has told me that  i need to  get my serotonine levels up which will make me a better focused person. he also told me however that i do suffer from obsession and depression. i dont quite feel as much depressed , however when i begin obsessing, it makes me depressed.( i guess they feed off of eachother)...my obsession over my health has gone away, but somehow my mind tries really hard to find something to obsess over..rather it be something that happened 10 years ago, or something i see on t.v. my mind will find a way to obsess over it..sometimes to the point to where it feels as though my head will explode, which then sometimes leads to a full blown panic attack at which point i take a xanax pill...usually, i am dead against medication and would hate to have to go on something for 6 months to a year cuz i worry about side effects and withdrawl (withdrawal) symptoms, but im wondering if i should...only because my obsession is really getting out of hand and is getting more irrational...does zoloft help with just depression, or will it bring an end to the obsessions as well. i really need to stop obsessing over things and get on with my life , because the last 6 months of my life have really been like my own personal hell...any advise u can give would surely be appreciated...

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

You should do a combination of things which include talking to yourpsychologist about your underlying anxiety, which is different than the obsessions which are symptoms of anxiety. Yes, zoloft will help, and there are many others if it doesn't.  Your psychiatrist will have a list to offer you.

[Pum]

The medication should help you. Make sure you try it for a while ie don't give up if you feel worse initially (first few weeks).
You have very good insight into your issues and unfortunately(fortunately?) you are not alone in what you are going through.

When you look back, this will all just be a bad phase memory that will help you have understanding for others that just can't "snap out of it" whether it be anxiety/depression/ addictions.

Some non medication things to also try are excercise (it really helps), meditation (good for the panic attacks), eat little and often, do things for others, keep busy, do NOT sleep during the day.  

It could be that something in your life is out of your control and so your obssessing is your way of gaining control. Major life changes can bring it on.

Good luck.