pay her money each week to survive.. how can we get her to support her self.. and be able to go out on her own.. we have tried all benefits but they will not pay her anything.. she does receive widows pension as she is a widow.. please help I do not now what to do next........ (serious answers please)
2006-10-27 11:44:27 · 22 answers · asked by ojay 2 in Health ➔ Mental Health
hi jo hope this helps first can i say its called agoraphobia ,i myself have suffered this for many yrs in fact maybe 27 yrs ,all the money in the world wont make her go out alone ,money has nothing to do with it , its a mental health issue not money or status ,she realy needs help support and reasurrance eg 1st try taking her a short walk to the end of her path daily then progress to someone being there at the bottom of the path waiting on her ,its a bit like baby steps ,you could see yr doc if they have community physicatric nurses to maybe visit ,there a godsend they try and talk to you help listen, and eventually try and take you out at yr level not theres ,i know its hard on the familys to watch this but TRY and understand how the family member feels cos if they could go out alone they would ,see also its an illness thats kinda invisible you look ok so then in the familys eyes you MUST be ok ,how wrong they are is a nightmare plss beleive me ,im trying everyday on my own cos i now know i have to but il get there and yr m/inlaw will to .if she gets the proper help ,but rem jo money is not the answer it may help get her around in taxis but thats NOT the answer, the motto is 1 day at a time !!! another thing she will suffer if shes pushed to far is panic attacks now there bloody awfull , so jo plsss i know its hard but plsss have patience she will do ok having a loving family around for starters is a good begining ,1 more thing can i say is agoraphobia can come on anybody it has no class or creed , so anybody reading this any symptoms like panics or not wanting to go out plsssssss see yr gp asap dont wait till it grips you , you grip it first , hope this was helpfull jo i wish you all the luck esp to yr m/inlaw rem keep telling her she can do it DONT let it win round her ,tc x
2006-10-28 01:54:54 · answer #1 · answered by maggie may 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Acrophobia, or the fear of heights, is characterized by an irrational fear of height situations resulting in the avoidance of such situations or the confrontation of such situations with marked distress. This fear for some is endured with distress, whereas for others the fear is so intense that height situations must be avoided altogether. Some may not be able to see a physician if his office is on the fifth floor, will not take a job because the office is on the tenth floor, or will not visit friends that move into an apartment three stories up.
At the VRMC, acrophobia can be treated with the use of virtual reality exposure therapy. After relaxation training and discussion about what situations produce anxiety, the client is exposed to progressively higher anxiety virtual environments. These may include a virtual construction elevator, hotel elevators. As the client progresses, stimuli such as wind, vibration and sound can be added to create further realism.
Before progressing, each stage can be repeated until the client is comfortable with the experience and satisfied with their response. At every step, the therapist can see and hear what the client is experiencing in the virtual world and can monitor physiological response. If the client's level of anxiety becomes overwhelming, they can return to a less stressful level of treatment, or simply remove the head-mounted display and exit the virtual world.
her having acrophobia shouldent stop her from getting a job.just not one one a high floor level.
2006-10-27 19:12:57 · answer #2 · answered by purple 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If she is physically able ( but not mentally) you need to back off on the help...as long as your bringing her everything she needs, she will not go out. You are disabling her....I am speaking from experience .........Here's how you start....go to her doctor and tell him....she needs some med. for her anxiety, have her take a pill an hour before she is to go out side, then she starts with small steps...to the porch.....to the side walk , another day, the first 2 steps and a walk past the neighbors house , and maybe she can add a walk past 2 houses the next day and so on. It will be slow....but it can be done, and if she has a computer she can get on line and talk to others who have this. BUT YOU MUST STOP WITH ALL THE HELP. IF YOU DON'T SHE HASN'T GOT A CHANCE...I know what I'm talking about here , and I'm giving you my email address......If that's allowed here...because I really do care and know what i"m talking about. songbirdoct@yahoo.com
2006-10-27 19:17:06 · answer #3 · answered by Marie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
She needs to see her gp, then get therapy. You should try to get her a home visit, tell them you are at the end of your tether and can't go on like this.
As for the benefits they are means tested, so the pension might be too much to be eligable. She could be entitled to some housing benefit if she pays rent, and some council tax benefit; and perhaps some Disability Living Allowance. But to claim that she needs to be assessed by them in a medical exam; and have full reports from her gp and psychiatrist.
This will sound tough, but this does improve with treatment - but not with people who do everything for you. She has no reason to get well at the moment. She has you to manage for her.
Its common after a bereavement. She will need support, but not to have everything done for her.
Good luck.
2006-10-27 18:58:10 · answer #4 · answered by sarah c 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Agoraphobia is a tricky one - if she can't go out, she can't really go and get help from outside. Perhaps her GP could visit and get her some counselling at home? She will really have to want to get well though, and you can't force her to support herself. She won't starve if she's on a pension...I don't mean to sound harsh but many people survive on a pension whether they have an anxiety disorder or not. Just be there for her, but try not to do everything for her if you see what I mean - it will only encourage her to become more dependent on you. No harm in helping her out financially now and again, but to be honest I don't think giving her money every week is the answer. Good luck :)
2006-10-27 18:54:46 · answer #5 · answered by Nurse Soozy 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My husband suffers the same. He was with a psychiatrist and had a community psychiatric nurse (CPN) visit him at home in the early and worst stages. He has only incapacity benefit, having been turned down for mobility despite several people supposedly in the know who say he should qualify. Try GP for referral to local mental health care. It's frustrating as a carer but try to remember how frightening it is for the sufferer. Hopefully the underlying cause will be found and things will improve. My husband is much improved but can only go to 'safe' places for short periods and won't be independent in the foreseeable future. Good luck.
2006-10-27 19:20:59 · answer #6 · answered by lizzybean 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your mother-in-law needs specialist psychotherapy. Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy is much better than any drug at treating phobias. She will probably need a referral from a psychiatrist or psychologist in your local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT). Her GP needs to ask for an assessment.
In the meantime, you could ask her doctor for a few calming drugs (like Valium) for use in emergencies when she really has to go out.
As for benefits, she probably qualifies for the mobility part of Disability Living Allowance (DLA). It can be quite difficult to persuade the relevant authorities, but you can apply as many times as you like, so persistence is the key!
2006-10-27 18:55:25 · answer #7 · answered by Kat D 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If she has not been diagnosed by a Dr. you need to get her seen by her GP as a first step. You should also see your local Social Service s and ask for an assessment of need. They will help with benefits and the like. Just check in the phone book if you aren't sure where the SS office is.
2006-10-27 19:00:19 · answer #8 · answered by Cheryl M 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
She can apply for social security disability, even if she has been turned down previously, its not unusual to go through several appeals before it is finally awarded. Agoraphobia (look it up now) is considered a temporary disability. There are also treatments for her condition, including medications if needed. She needs to be in a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy program. She is not JUST agoraphobic, she is in essense housebound which is a severe symptom that arises from panic disorder with agoraphobia.
If she has a computer, there are several online groups that will work with her FOR FREE to help her with having friends and social support needed to address these problems. One good group online can be found at www.pac-connection.com. Many members of these groups have been housebound in the past and are now free, they will help your mom.
2006-10-27 18:56:33 · answer #9 · answered by Dust in the Wind 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
my father has the same problem, has for years and years. It is going to take a lot of therapy and possibly even a mild sedative to get her out of the house. That will help ease her anxiety a bit at first to get her out. She probably won't be able to handle full days or long trips for a while, if ever. But she will eventually be able to have short trips out. But you will HAVE to get her into some type of therapy program, then you may even qualify for benefits via the govt. if the psychiatrist deems it a medical condition that must be addressed.Good luck
2006-10-27 18:55:05 · answer #10 · answered by Chrissy 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋