phobia and panic disorder

hello, i am 22 years old and have been suffering from panic disorder since i was 10 or so.  i have that under control with xanax.  the thing that i cant combat is the phobia i have.  i have blood-injection-injury phobia.  i get extremly panicky in situations where i see blood, hear about blood, are anything like that.  most of the times i faint.  i have tried propranolol, which didnt help.  there is no way that i can just avoid it either, since i am studying exercise science and minoring in nutrition.  we study alot about blood and anatomy.  eventually we are going to work on a human cadavor.  this scares me alot.  my doctor has prescribed me 25mg of zoloft.  i have not taken it yet because i am sceptical, and am worried about the side effects.  i am also seeing a psychiatrist for this, he was the one who told my doc to put me on zoloft, along with xanax as needed.  do you think that zoloft will help with my phobia.  if i cant get it under control, there is no way that i am going to graduate.  any advice about zoloft helping my phobia would help alot. thank you for your time

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Zoloft is a  a good choice, but so is Paxil and Prozac.  There are several in the same class that are used for this.

But in addition, work with your psychiatrist about the imagery of blood and death, and try to sort out the difference between the images in your mind and the probablility of being hurt.  Keep that polarity going in a mindful way so you can fight the symptoms and get some insight into your normal, but exaggerated, fears.