I'm rather familiar with anxiety and clinical depression. I don't think I have it as bad as some other people, but it's with me every day. I take generic Cilexa to control the anxiety, and thus the depression. The shrink believes that I have a chemical imbalance in my brain because the citalipram is somewhat effective for me. I don't normally get panic attacks from my anxiety, but I have had a couple of them. They are really no fun at all!
I think everyone with anxiety, depression, OCD, and all the other related conditions experiences it in their own unique way, it's a comples set of symptoms, which is why it can be so difficult to treat successfully.
Those of us with anxiety and depression don't need non-professional suggestions on how to help it, we just need understanding and a bit of empathy.
It really pisses me off when someone says "other people have it much worse than you". I always want to say, "how can you possibly know that, you asshole!"
Those people who say, "you just need to cheer up" should have it for a week or two and then see what they think. They might have a bit more understanding after that...