UPDATED: Dealing with my partner's anxiety. Just want to talk

[Belthizor]

Hi all, I'm new here, my name is Sheldon and basically I just want to talk to others about how to deal with my partner's anxiety. For the past couple of months, she has been having anxiety-related issues, but only very recently have these issues intensified. In the past two days we have been to the ED twice, Seen the Doctor twice and been to see her psychologist. The attacks are getting worse, and I am really worried for her. She has even been having suicidal thoughts. This of course worries me even more, but I feel that I have to stay strong for her sake. I love her very dearly and it just breaks my heart to see her so upset. She's crying, has involuntary hand movements, feeling nauseous and has even physically thrown up. She has recently been prescribed a benzodiazaprene and tomorrow we will be going to the doctors to review her current anti-depressant medication. I love her with all my heart and I don't ever want to lose her. While we are doing everything we can to address these issues, it's still hard - especially for me, and I would love someone to talk to who has been through this, or even just someone willing to bend an ear but not judge. This girl is my whole world and without her... I don't know what I'd do.

 Thanks for listening, I know I rambled on a bit, but I do that.

[Belthizor]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your support. I had another few hours of gameplay today but had to turn it off around midnight because of the heat. Neither my gf, nor I cope very well with hot weather. Everything has been going very well of late. Yesterday my gf asked for some alone time while she played the PS4, but the reason was less anxiety, more... personal reasons, if you catch my drift. No arguments or anything, which was good, and this allowed me to spend a few hours working on the 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle we started around the beginning of the whole anxiety thing. My gf has since lost interest in the puzzle, but I am determined to finish it! lol.

Anyway, I'm gonna head on back to the bedroom where it is nice and cool. Hope you're all doing well and we'll chat soon.

Cheers,

Sheldon

[blondguy]

Hey Sheldon

1000 piece jigsaw....what a great idea! I love jigsaw puzzles......and have forgotten all about them...I might go out and get one...

Many Thanks

Paul

[digit_]

hey belthizor, I wanted to add in, that I am exactly like your partner and have been for last 7 months, started having panic attacks every single day, had physical symptoms too like muscle twitching shaking involuntary movements, heart palpitations, tingling in head stabbing pains in face and head, numbness, plus a lot more. I fear to talk of the attacks and stuff aswell because of fear of panic attacks.... It's so hard to deal with. I really feel for her and you as my friends and family find it hard to deal with me how I've been. Alls I can say is it will get better in time, there was points where I was going to kill myself as I couldn't deal with Fear and depression from the attacks.... I still have my bad days months later from when I first experienced them but I've been on a anti anxiety/depressant (a new one) for 2 months now and they've lessened but unfortuaney I still get physical stuff which do cause panic attacks still 😞 it'll never fully surpass, well in my case it hasn't, you just learn how to deal with the attacks and try and prevent them and they get less full on and shorter. I hope all goes well xxx

[Belthizor]

Whoops! The heat frazzles my brain. I accidentally got the time wrong. I meant to write MIDDAY not MIDNIGHT! Lol

Paul, you should have a much easier time doing a jigsaw puzzle... I have to contend with two cats, lol!

[blondguy]

Great to see that humour you have Sheldon 🙂

Paul

[Graceeeeee]

Hey Digit!

This is the first time I've seen you on here, and I wanted to give you a big welcome for having the courage to post on here, go you! 🙂

And I understand how hard it is to live with anxiety, but don't give up, because we are here with you dear digit 🙂 It's not something you have to go through yourself, you can talk about anything and everything you want here. You have many reasons of living, and the other day I realised that the suffering is what brings the happiness, because without suffering we don't have a meaning 🙂

But this doesn't mean you are to swallow everything yourself and struggle on your own, we are only human beings and that is not possible, what I suggest is that while posting on here, or reading on here as you wish, you can also seek help from a professional, this can either be a local GP (which I think can be mostly covered by medicare), or a psychiatrist or psychologist that you can find, there are a bunch of ways to fin them--through GP, online, through friends and family, through people you know who have experience in this area and would like to confide with. In the mean time there are also lots of stuff you can read online about anxiety and panic attacks, start with BeyondBlue, it is a great source and it has helped me a lot 🙂 I think simply getting to know your symptoms and what cause them can be a great help by itself, there are books, online articles you can read, and in your most desperate times, you can always call the helpline here or email people in BeyondBlue who will be more than happy to help you 🙂

Digit, I am fighting anxiety on a daily basis and I am proud, because I am strong, and seeking help is a sign of not weakness but strength, the psychological pains are just as painful as the psychical ones and often more, so I want to give you a big hug and thumbs up for willing to post here and willing to heal. And I strongly suggest that you seek help, this is nothing wrong, we are normal people, we are hurt, we feel pain but we keep fighting, and the most important, we heal together 🙂

(If any of this offends you dear digit, I am truly and really sorry, please don't take it personally and know that I say everything thinking of you) My love and thoughts are with you digit!! May you have a good afternoon you legend 🙂

With much love to you,

Grace xx

[Graceeeeee]

Hey dear Sheldon!

Glad to see that your wife hasn't had much anxiety or panic attacks lately, hope she's doing well today, I am thinking of both of you, and have fun with you puzzle, keep being you legend!! 🙂

With Love,

Grace xx

[digit_]

hey grace, 

thankyou for your reply :))

much appeciated! None of it offended me, made me feel a little bit better knowing there are others out there to support me and know what I'm going through. I've been to a couple diff psychologists but it's hard for me to form relationships and feel comfortable around people so I have to choose the right one.. Seeing my new one next Tuesday and am on a anti depressant/anti anxiety which is helping to an extent. 

It such a horrible thing to have to deal with but ugh life goes on and we grow stronger! 🙂

thanking you for your kind words and I hope you're well and feeling good today! Xx 

[blondguy]

Hi Sheldon

I hope you and your GF are doing okay

Digit..Welcome ....I just want to thankyou for your great post! Nice1I have copied & pasted a sentence you wrote;

"Alls I can say is it will get better in time"

Thanks again Digit...Pop in to the Cafe and say hi if you wish. I see that you have a lot to offer people with your experience..Look forward to seeing more of you on BB 🙂

Kind Thoughts

Paul

[Belthizor]

Hi Guys,

First of all, my apologies for not responding to you sooner, digit, I didn't see your post until today. Please feel welcome to post whatever you want in here. We are all here to help each other.

A bit about myself - my GF started having anxiety attacks several weeks-a month+ ago. They got so severe that she actually had to go to the ED for them. Twice! She got prescribed a benzodiazepene on the first visit and we spoke to the ECAT team on the second. Fortunately we haven't had any more severe anxiety attacks since then. a few minor to moderate ones but nothing so debilitating. My GF has also started doing volunteer work at the local animal shelter. She does this once a week at this stage, and only for a couple of hours a day. She says it's exhausting work, but I can tell she is enjoying it! I myself have Depression (manageable without medication) and have an autoimmune disease known as Ulcerative Colitis (which is like Crohn's Disease). I've had three operations to remedy that. Very scary stuff. I have also got some qualifications (Diploma of Community Services Work) for dealing with this sort of stuff on an intellectual level (I'm also an Aspy - that is, having Aspergers Disease), I tend to be very logical so if I seem emotionally detached, please don't take it personally, it's just how I am. 

My GF is facing the possibility of having to do Work For the Dole again before she finally gets the Carer's Payments, but she has told me that she doesn't want to hide from the anxiety and is willing to try Work For the Dole again, provided they can find something mentally stimulating enough for her. This is a huge step forward as her psychologist offered her a letter that could possibly exempt her from Work For the Dole, but she (my GF) turned it down. On Friday my GF has her next psychologist's appointment and this one she HAS to attend on her own as I will be babysitting and unable to come in with her, but my GF think she is ready to face these sessions on her own! So proud of her!

Anyway, that's all from me,

Hope you're all doing well and have a great weekend. I have a very busy day tomorrow - shopping, gym, babysitting and my GF goes to the psychologist. I imagine we'll be absolutely knackered by the time we get home.

Cheers to all,

Sheldon