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How to help adult child with anxiety

Where_to_begin
Community Member
Hi
I'm new here and really not sure where to start.

I need help/advice on how to deal with my 22year old son who suffers with anxiety, depression and has thoughts of suicide.

He had to leave his job because he chooses not to be vaccinated. He said he would find work from home. He has applied for a couple and has been knocked back. He seems reluctant to look any more. I know he is comfortable at home. It is his safe place. He doesn't want to apply for unemployment benefits. He spends a lot of time on his computer and phone. He no longer using social media. Has no contact with friends, only us at home.

He has tried phycology. Refuses to try medication. He so clever, gorgeous young man and I feel I am slowly losing him.

5 Replies 5

Matchy69
Blue Voices Member
Blue Voices Member

Hi Where To Begin and welcome to the BB forums.I understand about having an adult child with anxiety.My daughter is 18 next month has Autism ,selective mutism and anxiety and i see the anxiety as one her biggest battles.I to have severe anxiety and understand how it is effecting her.She has been trying to find work since she finished school last year as a straight A student but nothing but Knockbacks.She enrolled in Tafe and is looking forward to this doing a course she will enjoy .Maby that is something your son could try a course he enjoys.My daughter is very comfortable at home but take her out of this environment is a completely different story.Keep trying and we are herebto support you.

Tske care,

Mark

Thank you

My son was a straight A student at secondary school and had completed two years of University and was doing extremely well. But unfortunately he decided not to complete his final two years. We were so impressed how he gathered the courage to go beyond his normal boundaries. Travel three hours a days on public transport, to a complete new environment. We keep telling him that is a huge achievement in it self. We have discuss with him about going back to study but he is worried about not finishing it again.

I did mention to him tonight about short courses, as you suggested, and that there is also government funded ones too. He seems a little interested. That's a start. Thanks again.

Hi the course my daughter is doing is being funded by the government and is a one day a week.She is really excited at going to TAFE and hopefully she manages that ok.It will almost an hour drive for me to take her as she dosnt have her licence yet.I live in a small country town so it makes it a bit harder but their is a bus that comes through here early in the morning and comes back through late afternoon.I might look into that later on for her.

Do you notice that your son's anxiety gets worst of he has to go out or something?My daughter suddenly becomes very moody when she gets anxious.

Take care,

Mark.

I'm happy your daughter is excited to begin her new course. Hopefully, it's a start of new beginnings for her.

I'm hoping with my conversation with him last night and give him a week to research, just maybe he can find something of interest.

Can I ask??Does your daughter receive any government assistance/payments? Was it an easy process?

My son does become very grumpy if there is any sudden chances to his daily routine. A bit of yelling, huffing and puffing but he eventually gets over it. We try to warn him in advance if we plan to go or do something out of the ordinary. Heading to out to our families homes are not an issue but to make him go shopping for clothes, Centrelink or anything on his own or with me, he is not comfortable doing.

He has his licence, he didn't want to get that either, and his own car but he wants to sell it now because he believes he wont use it any more. I wont let him. We have no public transport where we are and I know if he sells it, he will be more dependent on us than he already is.

I just don't know how to help someone who doesn't want to be helped. My husband and I aren't expecting him to be working full-time in a high pressured job. We would be happy with anything. Even to volunteer some where or just walk dogs for people. We are frightened of pushing to much ( we encourage but I'm sure he feels we are pushing) that we will push him over the edge.

Where is the fine line between encouragement and pushing?

Hi my daughter is applying for a DSP and gave spent ages filling at the forms and getting what needed.I really don't think she will get it.If she can't get that she will apply for the youth allowance.She alsi gets NDIS and and has put in for a laptop for her studies at TAFE.The NDIS wasn't to hard to get just needed the specialist to fill at a form and has been worth getting.The DSP seems so much harder.My daughter is keen on getting her licence and I have been teaching her to drive.

I think you need to push them at times so they don't get stuck in a rut but needs to be done in a gentle way for not to discourage hem to much.

Taje care,

Mark