Yes, yes, and yes. I've had panic attacks for over 20 years, but recently they started to increase to several times a day. It's so exhausting.

I hope this isn't the case for you, but I was diagnosed as bipolar a few months ago. Turns out SSRIs can make bipolar people turn manic, and my panic attacks are sometimes a physical manifestation of mania. By the way, Zoloft is notorious for pushing bipolars over the edge.

I was misdiagnosed as having depression and anxiety. I think the doctors missed it because I don't have happy mania. When I'm manic I have extreme irritability and lots of anxiety/panic attacks. I wake up in the middle of the night with my heart racing and thinking I must be dying. The energy surge, the increase of adrenaline, makes me nervous.

Your increase is probably related to the recent stress in your life. But if you are taking an SSRI and not getting better, you may want to make sure you have a psychiatrist. A general practitioner will not know how to handle it.

Take care. I hope things turn around for you quickly.