also, meds, as my doc keeps reminding me, are not magic. i'm pretty nervous these days because i'm considering taking meds on a daily basis (the ativan is something i take only as a panic attack is occuring). i guess i thought once i took the ativan i would immediately begin to feel better. that seems to be where breathing slowly comes in, because it doesn't work right away. i'm grateful that i have something that helps, although sometimes i am darn near at the point of dialing the paramedics before my heart slows to the low hundreds.