I have made progress with my original issue. I went to therapy with a phobia/anxiety disorder around noise. I was also on anti depressants off and on for anxiety.

My noise phobia is much decreased, much more manageable and understandable. I have been off anti depressants for over a year and I'm doing well. So, I see these things as progress indeed!

Of course, the phobia/anxiety had an underlying cause, and I think it's slowly unearthing that which has helped lessen the panic responses. Therapy has brought up more issues for me, and that's difficult and challenging but overall very helpful because I'm starting to see why I have been so anxious most of my life, and this understanding reduces the anxiety. Long way to go, but I'm getting there.

Also, just to add that I understand lots of people will need anti depressants long term/ forever, the want to get off them was more because I felt I didn't really need them, not because they are a bad thing generally.