I, too, have had those intense feelings of anxiety where you have physical manifestations. The Xanax just put me to sleep. I got a thorough physical to rule out heart probs. (I had chest pains when anxious) & other possible illnesses. Then I made myself take small steps in order to do the things I was fearing--going out in public, taking a class, reaching out to someone in my support group for help, etc. As I became successful at doing these things the anxiety was still there before I attempted anything, but would dissipate as I got involved in whatever the activity was. I just rode through the chest pains & other stuff (feeling out of my body, nausea, foggy thinking, etc.), telling myself they were only my response to anxiety & not dangerous. Hope this helps in some way.--Suzy