With sadness, I am leaving my position as About.com's Guide to Panic Disorder. I have decided to leave this site to devote my time to my new family and other writing projects.

I have been doing this site for 11 years, since the beginnings of the About.com company. When I began the site, I still was limited severely by panic disorder. Within a couple of years, I was traveling alone -- by car and plane. I had (and have) an active, busy life, and I was very happy, and I still am! A year and a half ago, I was married, and we now have a 10-month-old daughter.

Because of all this, I want each of you to know, that no matter where you are in your recovery from panic disorder, you can get there. I will turn 40 in a couple of weeks, so I can tell you, it's never too late! Keep trying, keep looking for answers, and keep believing in yourself.

I will miss you all!

Cathleen

If you're looking for help and resources on a variety of topics, be sure to check out all the great sites on About.com Health!

May is Better Sleep Month, so it's a good time to take a look at your sleep habits to see if they are affecting your anxiety. If you feel drowsy during the day, you may not be getting enough sleep. Lack of sleep may cause irritability, poor memory, poor concentration, and mood swings -- and that's for everyone, including people without panic disorder. Imagine how much worse it may be when you have panic disorder.

The first step in addressing any sleep problems is to talk to your doctor. You want to make sure there isn't an underlying health problem, including an actual sleep disorder. Additionally, discuss your medications because they may be causing the problem. If all checks out OK, then the second step is to improve your sleep habits.

Sleep problems also may make mornings difficult. Mornings can be rough when you have an anxiety disorder. For tips on coping with morning anxiety, see 10 Ways to Manage Morning Anxiety.

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