Unfortuantely I get them too - They say it's in the genes and my dad's family is plagued with them. My sister and I both started getting them within a year of each other - I think my initially started from a bad drive up a really high bridge - from there is spiraled into every aspect of my life - I couldn't drive, I still don't do bridges - only on a good day - I couldn't run on the treadmill for fear of sending my heart racing, every little thing started to set me off, so off to the doctor I went. I didn't want to start any meds, but had no choice - I have two kids with CF and they needed their mom 100%...So Effexor is what I've been on for about 1-1/2 years and it's a miracle drug - sometimes I feel like I'm getting nervous, but they never become full blown attacks anymore.
You'll know when you can't deal with them anymore...they really do suck....my sister wore a rubber band around her wrist in the beginning, and every time she felt something coming on, she would snap the rubber band to try and distract her mind from the attack..it worked for a little while, but after a while it started to really hurt!!