she was very outgoing, a cheerleader, popular, and honor student. Her parents have always been proud, & never been pushy or demanding. She will be 21 next week, a med student wants 2 be a nurse/midwife.The first attack came when we were going out shopping but ended up in the ER, she felt she's having a heart attack. it was low potassium, & these attacks. Since all this started, she has left her college apartment moved back home & her mother is having to sleep w/ her because shes scared something is going to happen to her medically. Now she is worried about her breathing and repsirations & heart.
Shes on adavant & effexor but it seems its not helping, and she is even scard of the side effects, this is the 2nd meds becos she read the lables on the other & was even to scard to take it. She wont leave the house scared of having an attack, & is losing weight. She doesnt want her mom to leave her either. She has never been this way & it scares all of us w/ this constant worry she has. ??
2006-12-08 06:04:33 · 7 answers · asked by bex920 3 in Health ➔ Mental Health
There's nothing physically or mentally wrong with her. She became stressed and out of balance and her mind/body wasn't able to cope. And since then, the fear of what happened is generating more fear so she's become afraid of being afraid of being afraid.
She doesn't need drugs, she just needs to learn how to control her thoughts and change her focus. If she follows this program, she'll be better in about 5-6 months.
http://www.panic-anxiety.com
2006-12-08 07:00:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I suffer from the same problem and actually did not leave the house for a week. I was off work for 3 months. This is a horrible illness that is real. She may need to go up on her effexor to 225 mg because at that dose it starts to work on both chemicals of the brain. I am much better but I had to rely on a lot of people through my struggle. I also had cognitive behavioral therapy (about ten sessions). This helps to train your brain to get rid of these fears that so suddenly overcome us.
She will get better and you are a great supporter. There is light at the end of the tunnel just keep the hope.
2006-12-08 07:44:29 · answer #2 · answered by Dawn Rocks 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She is the perfect candidate for panic attacks. She seems like an overacheiver with a lot of pressure. First off, all of her symptoms are condusive to panic disorder or generalized anxiety disorder. She's not crazy, those are all symptoms. I know, because I have GAD. The best advice I have is counseling. I know it's expensive, but that's the only thing that really helped me. Counseling, possibly in conjunction with a medication that works for her can help so much. Tell her that if she wants it bad enough, she CAN feel like her again! Really! I had my first panic attack when I was 18 and I was never like that before. That's how it first comes. Like I said, everything you're describing is normal. Get her into counseling to help her find some coping strategies. There are a lot of online support groups and stuff too. If you have any more questions, please email me. I know a lot about this.
2006-12-08 06:10:02 · answer #3 · answered by dontimaginetheyllallcometrue 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she is not already receiving professional counseling, she needs to start doing that ASAP. Medications can help, but she may have experienced a trauma of some sort (that you don't even know about) that is feeding into her fear and panic. She needs to be seeing a psychotherapist at least weekly to help her learn how to cope and to get to the bottom of what might be the root cause of these attacks.
You sound like a great friend -- she's lucky to have you.
2006-12-08 06:08:16 · answer #4 · answered by Meg 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
that is definitely a panic attack but she need to do some stress exercises. I use to go through this when I use to have them, they tried prescribing Zoloft, and Paxil and those meds only made me angrier, my heart literally use to feel as if I was having a heart attack and couldn't breathe. My therapist taught me calming exercises such as taking a moment to think and breathe, I really know what she is going through and to be honest there is something more deeper than the panic attacks, she might want to see a doctor--it sounds like pre-shizophrenia or something of that nature... good luck..
2006-12-08 06:30:07 · answer #5 · answered by Kia 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the pressure of everything in life finally caught up to her at one time she needs a little rest and relaxation
2006-12-08 06:20:31 · answer #6 · answered by scott r 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
she needs to see a mental health professional!
2006-12-08 06:07:25 · answer #7 · answered by parental unit 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This might be helpful
http://sensitive-psychoworld.blogspot.com/
2006-12-08 13:48:44 · answer #8 · answered by LIz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋