I never had meds though my therapist suggested them a couple of times. I have only had one panic attack in my life though, back in 1970 :-) That was before m/any meds for anxiety. I had a similar realization that the panic attack was "itself" and not something that would kill me. I logically couldn't see anything "wrong" that the panic should be about so just waited and eventually it passed and I've never had another. I was in therapy for a long time and just keep working "out" from inside myself and my fears, small ones first :-) It's quite possible but not at all comfortable/easy.