topic Help for a friend with anxiety in Supporting family and friends

Help for a friend with anxiety

CMF — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 12:31:19 GMT

My friend has had anxiety for about 4 months. It won't go away no matter what he tries. He will only try natural remedies is doing acupuncture, has Chinese herbs and inositol. we think it is like a post traumatic stress as a few things he has tried have given him a shock, bad images and they persist. He had a friend's priest give him a blessing but placing their hands on his head made him start to tremble uncontrollably, he saw a psychologist but talking about events brought on another attack. The worst was when a kinesiologst placed her hands on his head. He got an awful image in his mind which gave him a shock and he can't seem to recover from this. It was about 2 months ago. These series of events/traumas have given permanent anxiety. I have explained that although it is real for him, it is in his mind. He doesn't drink and has never used any substance, eats well very very health conscious. I have suggested cbt and try to help by talking/ listening but feel at a loss.

Can anyone relate to this or know why it's happening? He feels he will never recover. We have had a stressful few years but he says he is ok with all of it it's in the past im at a loss

Help for a friend with anxiety

CMF — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 20:50:31 GMT

He is spiritual, thinks that these people placing their hands on him have passed on some sort of bad omen. I keep telling him it's in his mind, nothing bad has happened but he can't recover.

Can a build up of years of stress cause this? His mum drove him mad for years, they constantly yelled, we had issues, we have a beautiful daughter, unplanned, he wasn't ready for this he is a perfectionist, a planner.

could the last few years of events have brought it on but he thinks something else has? I suggested a group therapy too and tried to get him out of the house but he struggles and I feel depressed around him now

Help for a friend with anxiety

Neil_1 — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 23:29:02 GMT

Hi there CMF (me again, just on a different frequency!) 🙂

This situation certainly doesn’t sound so good for your friend. When you say, no matter what he tries – as in, he’ll only try ‘natural’ remedies. It sounds like there was something back in his past that is triggering these images – maybe I’ve mis-read your post; as you’ve mentioned that you think it’s PTSD, but you’ve mentioned that by saying that you think it’s that as a few things he’s tried have given him shock and bad images. I’d say he’s receiving shock ‘from’ the bad images.

Do you think he’d be able to go to a GP; in the first instance and from that, perhaps try a different psychologist – someone who the GP may recommend after they see your friend? Perhaps even some medication to ease his tension, stress and trauma??

A very tricky situation.

Neil

Help for a friend with anxiety

CMF — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 00:46:01 GMT

Hi again,

Its very tricky,

yes he is recieving shock form the bad images he is receiving, he wont explain in detail what they are. I've suggested going back to the psychologist but he only want to talk about othr people experinces doesn't want him to delve into his life as he thinks this is just what they do and they doit so they can pinpoint something and say its the trigger. I feel he won't let anyone do their job and he is sceptical, hes a control freak in my eyes and wont fully listen even when I suggest things or reasons he says no no no that's not it..ive told him he needs to do more to help himself, want do cbt. he has a gp who is an expert in the field and has referred him to a phsycologist but he is worried they will prescribe meds and he wont take them - I can relate to this.

his last concern was that all this anxiety will lead to bi polar, from what ive read it is the same brain chemicals that cause both conditions but you there is no evidence that anxiety causes bi polar, rather its the other way around.

hes sensitive, somewhat spiritual, perfectionist, control freak (in my eyes). he has mentioned hat the more you believe in i.e spirituality the more you think things will affect you i.e upset god, jinxes, bad karma. I'm like this myself so even though I tell him I don't agree that these things are 'hurting' him I get what he means.

I hope he tries the group therapy, talking to those currently in the same situation. he worried about the long term effects of this constant anxiety, how it will affect his brain moving forward.

Help for a friend with anxiety

CMF — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 12:50:48 GMT

He still has this anxiety, didn't find a psychologist helpful. I've told him he needs to fins one he connects with but he says all they do is bring up,things from the past. I've explained they need to as this anxiety could he from something deep rooted but hey doesn't seem to get that, denies it. He looks up everything on the Internet, I said nit to, says he has to as gp's no nothing.. He had to go to hospital for an injury that isn't healing and they wanted to refer him to a psychologist as they think he may be borderline delusional. I totally agree, he absolutely is but he wants 2 or 3 opinions. I think he is in denial. I'm wondering. Ow if having this anxiety is subconsciously a way not to have to deal with life ie we have a child, he is not here for us as he is "unwell" we are alwYs "waiting for him to feel better". He wasn't expecting to have a child I think this us the deep rooted problem but he just disagrees, he knees better etc. he won't move out of here s parents house as he is "not well enough". I think he is just scared of the responsibility , he's 46 and always lived at home. I just st give up.