Painfully Shy and Panic Attacks

I am a painfully shy person. I am very uncomfortable with people in general. It makes me have panic attacks, and it is hard for me to go out in public places. I have a really hard time falling asleep, and when I do I have nightmares a lot. I have taken Xanex before, but I don't like being dependent on it. I was wondering if there was anything natural that could help me.

Herbal medicine really excels with anxiety and is not only far more successful then prescription drugs but it is also wonderfully able to restore harmony and balance thus eventually eliminating a need for any anti-anxiety meds or herbs. I have had a lot of success in my practice with various combinations of the following herbs, depending on the individual - passion flower, wild lettuce, valerian, green oat seed, wood betony, lavender, catnip, kava, hops, st.john's wort, rose, motherwort, vervain or lemon balm. Adrenal tonics are also indicated here – licorice, ginseng, spikenard, Siberian ginseng, borage and nettles.
Diet is also important.
Similar questions on anxiety have been answered before; more information on herbs and diet can be found at:
www.richters.com/qa-search.cgi?search=anxiety