Panic attacks, anxiety disorders, phobias, and depression affect millions of  people. Panic attacks can be particularly debilitating as they can strike a  person with no warning. For most sufferers, what they experience is rooted in  fear: fear of rejection, fear of acceptance, fear of responsibility, fear of the  unknown. Something will trigger fear which drives the person to feel like he or  she is losing control. Panic attacks are often both physically and  psychologically intense.

Although medical experts believe that many  times the above-mentioned ailments originate within a person’s psyche, there are  times when a chemical imbalance is the cause. If this is the case, medication is  often prescribed to help counter the imbalance, which in turn treats the  symptoms of the psychological ailment. Is this a sin? No. God has allowed man to  grow in his knowledge of medicine, which God often uses in the healing process.  Does God need man-made medicine in order to heal? Of course not! But God has  chosen to allow the practice of medicine to progress, and there is no biblical  reason not to avail ourselves of it.

However, there is a fine line  between using medicine for healing purposes and continual reliance upon medicine  for daily living. We need to recognize God as the Great Physician, and know that  He alone holds the power to truly heal (John 4:14). We  need to look to God first and foremost for our healing. Medicine used to treat a  case of panic attack should only be used to the extent that it allows the  sufferer to deal with the root cause of fear. It should be used to give back  control to the sufferer. However, many sufferers take medicine in order to avoid  dealing with the true cause of their ailment; this would be denying  responsibility, denying God’s healing, and possibly denying others the freedom  of forgiveness or closure to some past event that could be contributing to the  ailment. This, then, does become sin, as it is based on selfishness.

By  taking medicine on a limited basis in order to treat the symptoms, then relying  upon the Word of God and wise counsel to enact transformation in one’s heart and  mind, gradually the need for the medicine will diminish. The believer’s position  in Christ is affirmed, and God brings healing into those troubled areas of the  heart and mind which are causing the ailment. God’s Word has much to say about  fear and its place in a believer’s life. Reading through the following  Scriptures and meditating on them is the universal cure. The following verses  give confidence, and illuminate the truth behind what being a child of God  entails: Proverbs  29:25; Matthew  6:34; John 8:32; Romans 8:28-39; 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:13;  2  Corinthians 10:5; Philippians 4:4-9; Colossians  3:1-2; 2 Timothy  1:6-8; Hebrews  13:5-6; James 1:2-4;  1 Peter 5:7;  2 Peter  1:3-4; 1 John 1:9;  4:18-19.

God can heal supernaturally and  miraculously. We should pray to that end. God also heals through medicine and  doctors. We should pray to that end as well. Regardless of which direction God  takes, our ultimate trust must be in Him alone (Matthew  9:22).