Thanks for the replies. The linchpin for the whole Fed thing is the physician
statements. I just got one from my psychologist and will probably do a full mental health and SSDI assessment from the local university's psychology dept. We have to do it this way because the mental health professionals here think I'm well enough to go back to work just because I just got meds and "coping skills." (This is despite the fact that it was at work when I had the first severe panic attack.)
Still trying to remain hopeful about the whole thing.