topic Partner with Anxiety in Supporting family and friends

Partner with Anxiety

BigPoh — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 23:37:44 GMT

Hi all, I'm new here, and seeking advice or strategies.

My partner of nearly a year, a single mum with 2 young kids. Recently separated she was made to feel anxious from her ex's controlling/narcissistic behaviour.

She goes through stages of anxiety, so I've just found out. Until now I thought she was just moody or very distracted but I've just learnt more about anxiety symptoms, and it all makes more sense now! plus she has started with professional help so hopefully will start to manage ok soon.

my issue, is from a relationship point of view: she is the love of my life, but we rarely get to see each other. She is always tired, and of course kids do prevent us from being together too, which is ok coz kids are important too!

we get to see each other maybe 1-2 per times per week which I feel is not enough, she agrees but between work, family, fatigue and having her time it's difficult. She has OCD tendencies too, for instance we recently had days off work but couldn't be together coz her OCD made her stay home and clean/do housework all the time!!

It seems her anxiety gets worse when I do manage to drag her away for fun time together coz she needs to get home to do all her jobs! She is such a fun person when she's happy.

how do I encourage her to have our together time and remove her from "all of her jobs" that she needs to do? Shes the busiest person ever but I wonder sometimes if she all those things she has to do are all really that important! Some are or course.

How would you manage this situation and try to find more time together to build out relationship further?

thank you

Partner with Anxiety

demonblaster — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 00:01:22 GMT

Hi Poh welcome to bb

I don't know a great deal about ocd but I do know its very powerful & the compulsion to follow through is vital & creates major stress if not. A friend had it & saw a bit on tv

I wonder how you'd feel about spending time at her place rather than out for very long periods. Maybe ease slowly into time away from home in short stints could help

Good shes getting help hopefully useful strategies can ease this. It'd be hard I'd imagine

I'm glad you know what's going on, a lot easier for support & understanding knowing

I wish you both well & if you feel like talking more please do 🌝

Partner with Anxiety

BigPoh — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 04:17:51 GMT

Thank you for your response. A good suggestion there. I'll give it a go and see what happens.

Partner with Anxiety

demonblaster — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 05:19:21 GMT

You're welcome Poh ☺

Hope both your situations become easier

Just a thought maybe you could research OCD on net & here too if you search top R) search box you might learn more which might help both of you

Thx for coming back

Partner with Anxiety

demonblaster — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 05:26:27 GMT

Just did a search OCD here looks like quite a bit

Partner with Anxiety

Sophie_M — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 05:32:38 GMT

Hi There,

Just a gentle reminder that we are not able to provide a diagnosis of any mental health condition, this is best sought from a health professional.

Let's try to keep our focus on providing answers to the initial questions: how do I encourage her to have our together time and remove her from "all of her jobs" that she needs to do? How would you manage this situation and try to find more time together to build out relationship further?

Partner with Anxiety

demonblaster — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 05:44:04 GMT

Ok thanks Sophie was going off original post ☺