I agree with ZAP... there's definitely a compelling story just underneath all that haphazardly strung-out verbiage. It all just depends on how you spin it, so that it comes out positive and mature-sounding. I would say definitely concentrate on how you dealt with the sudden major responsibilities that got thrown at you, and possibly open with a scene related to your dad's death, or your first realization of just what you were facing. I wouldn't elaborate on "hating" your dad-- too negative, but more importantly, also too distracting from the point of the essay-- better just to mention that there were unresolved issues that made the task more difficult.
Also, I think it's perfectly legit to mention the panic disorder -- The key is to only mention it in the amount that's relevant to your main "over-coming obstacle" theme. The *worst* thing you could do would be to go on about it at length, or to dwell on your current fears of its reoccurrence--though if you play it right, it would be appropriate and compelling to mention that, fresh off of your year of "house-arrest", you were afraid it would keep you from being able to
handle this new crisis.
[It might even being interesting to try opening with a small sentence about the year of confinement, to create suspense, then cutting to your dad's death etc.]
I would NOT say much in the "society doesn't understand" vein--
not that I don't sympathize with you (really I do, my mother has an anxiety disorder, I know it's really hard to live with), but you want to come off as someone mature, someone who is worthy of respect for what they have accomplished, rather than as a person who is on the defensive. Also: Adcoms read enough essays from people with alcoholism, depression etc. to realize that chronic diseases are rarely totally "cured", what they are looking for in people from this "genre" is an indication that they have learned to cope with their condition,
and that the experience has given them tenacity and other qualities that will allow them to succeed in law school, and as a lawyer.
Have confidence in what you have here, and play around with it some more. And you underplay it, but I bet the dotcom experience could be a good essay also.
Anyway.
Now to go copyright it myself and sell it on E-bay...
