I want to be as supportive to her as I can when it comes to this stuff, but I have trouble at times. Sometimes I feel like she uses it as a crutch, and as an excuse to get away from doing things that she just plain doesn't want to do. How can I learn more about anxiety and symptoms, so that I can be more well informed to help her and myself? I really don't want to spend the rest of my life explaining to other people why she never shows up to her commitments.

educate yourself but also be honest with what your capable of dealing with.

she may use it as a clutch, she may have learned that it works for her.

is she taking anything or finding alternative ways to deal with it? there are tools she can use to calm herself, to get herself through the panic attacks and anxiety. but she has to be willing. she should be seeing someone about this. there are some really great treatment options available.

don't listen to iheartdog she is so wrong learn as much as you can to help support her. the key word here is SUPPORT not enable her. she can get to the other side with the right help. medical and counseling.

Dump The Chick Shes Not Worth Ur Breath. People Will Think Ur A Freak If U Continue To Have To Explain Those Things To Them. You Will Die! Die I Tell Ya! Thiink For Urself Th

My grown daughter has panic attacks. You have to just let her settle down, breathe into a brown paper bag (I carry them, she has one in her car, her husband keeps them, too) Just sit with her. Rub her back, let her settle down. Sometimes overbooking with friends can cause this too. You are a doll to care and to try. Give her less to do and let her ease into her life with you - and maybe after a while she can fall into place with all the commitments with you. Good Luck.

I get anxiety and panic attacks. The only way I could ever stop myself from getting them is distraction. I used to get them especially bad when I was little so my parents got me a cell phone and that took my mind off of it, for a bit.
She needs to take baby steps into facing what gives her the anxiety and panic attacks. Like for example, if she has the fear of public speaking she should start by presenting only to one person (like you), then two people and work her way up.
If she avoids going to events or meeting up with people then that means she has Avoidant Personality Disorder and possibly Social Anxiety Disorder. I would now because I do that same thing when it comes to going to social events (I push everything off and in the end I don't bother to go). The only way she can get over it is by seeing a psychiatrist. I've tried to face my own problems without any help, and even though I have a lot of will power, I just couldn't get passed it.
It really is out of your hands now, and I know that's not what you want to hear because you want to help her yourself, but if you really want to help her take her to a psychiatrist.

Good luck to you and her.

I had the same of her. Anxiety and panic attacks. It's very real and very hard. It's very difficult to anybody outside feel or imagine it, but it's a problem that needs to be fixed with medical resources. I was fixed in 3 weeks (of hard problem) and all problems to me was fixed on 1,5 year. Sure that I can back have the problem again, but I think it will very difficult to back.

(sorry for my poor English, I'm from Brazil)

well i think she is perfectionist and tries to accomplish too much and has anxiety due to that or if its a social commitment she back off from usually then its a low-self esteem ...or may be she doesn't want to be seen with you in public ) sorry buddy have to laugh a bit :P