In desperate need of suggestions....?

Question

My husband, a wonderful loving husband and father, has a serious panick disorder. He has been unable to function for the past 5 to 6 months. He can't get out to get a job, he can't even go get his drivers licence renewed. He wants to do these things and he has tried but when t comes down to it he panics and just can't. He is riddled with guilt and depression. I am in fear of becoming homeless as I can't pay the bills on my pay alone. We do not have medical insurance and I can't get him out of the house to get treatment. If I push him too hard he becomes reclusive and tells me to just leave him, he doesn't want that he just speaks out of guilt. I am worried for his mental health and the wellbeing of our family. I just don't know what to do.
Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Note: I'm not going to leave him or threaten to leave and he cannot be hospitalised due to his panic disorder.

Answer 1

Bless all of your hearts

Agorophobia and/or Social Anxiety disorder can be so hard to deal with

Have you tried calling mental health facilities in your area to ask them what they can recommend for someone without insurance?

If you have kids (you mentioned loving father)you may find that some organizations can offer you some help... for example food stamps... if you haven't already, apply for food stamp assitance -- call the Salvation Army & ask about local Food Banks -- Call United Way and ask them for suggestions. Is there a Catholic Center for Concern listed in your White Pages? Call them!!!

Sometimes larger churches are also involved in community (for example one here helps homeless & one helps mentally ill & one helps abused people, so forth & so on)... try to find one that has some type of mental health services

NOt sure if it will work out... but if you haven't yet already filed for Social Security Disability...then you need to start that process as well

It may be that you have to inpatient hospitalize him in order to help him (and your family) get some help for his disorder. I know that sounds scary.. but it really can help... given that he is unable to leave.. then he might have to be forced into unvolitary 30 day inpatient so they can help get him somewhat stabilized.. and this is something you are going to have to plan & execute without his help.... but it is most likely the only starting place for your family


I was involved with a family that had to do an intervention with thier daughter... the daughter was 35 years old & the Social Anxiety evolved into agoraphobia. They never could get her into the first appointment to get evaluated (she simply was to panic'd to go). The end result was that they had to have her committed. She was in-patient for 30-days... and after that 30 days, she was more stable & able to marginally function (instead of totally inable to function)... sometimes you have to do whatever is necessary to help someone you love & care about

If you could e-mail your city & state I may be able to help you find some resources for help

Answer 2

Sorry, but unless you are blessed with incredible genetics, it is unlikely that you can lose 10 pounds in one week while still eating healthfully. I can give you some other tips though... LOTS of water PORTION CONTROL is #1 problem with Americans in my opinion. actually LOOK at the box. When i was trying to lose weight, during my usual pasta binge i looked on the side of the box and discovered half a cup was a FULL serving. That kind of thing matters while calorie counting! Don't try fad diets. They don't work. Eat slower and enjoy the taste of the food. What I tell myself is, the food isn't going anywhere, so I don't need to eat it so quickly! If you eat slowly you will find you eat much less. Exercise, but try not to do too much too fast. Depending on how out of shape you are, you could start with a simple walk for half an hour once a day, then build that up to a jog, then a run. Also try runnng for 30 seconds/walking for thirty seconds. That helps. Also, if you have Wii Sports or Wii Fit, that can be fun and helpful! I have Wii Sports and play all the time. Rid your house of chips, cookies, soda etc. Having that stuff around just makes you eat it. Keep cut veggies and fruit in bowls in the front of the fridge so when you get hungry, it's the first thing you see. Switch to whole grains, which have some nutritional value. White breads and pastas may fill you up with a lot of it, but it has no nutritional value. If you dont like the taste of whole wheat pasta, try spelt-sounds weird, but tastes the same as white pasta! Also, they make 100-calorie packs of favorite candies (3 musketeers, m&ms, etc) that you can allow yourself once a day, so you wont feel like you are depriving yourself. just BE CAREFUL to eat slow and only have one!!!! good luck!

Answer 3

It's understandable that you're so worried. One bit of good news: there are some medications that are really good at reducing panic and anxiety. Prozac, Paxil and various others.

Your husband needs to be seen by a psychiatrist. That way he will be evaluated properly and be given the right medication. You mention you don't have medical insurance so I'm assuming you're in the USA; I don't know how things work there, but I'd just suggest you reassure your husband that there IS medication that can turn his life around.

Answer 4

Do you know of anyone who will come to your home to talk with him? A pastor, or an inspiring friend? He needs to be gently convinced to seek help. I used to be a professional counselor, and I know that there are treatment teams that can come and work with him at home, but he has to make the initial trip to the mental health center for an evaluation. You are right in that no one can force him to go or hospitalize him unless he is a danger to himself or others or is having psychotic symptoms (halluciations or delusions.) I would contact your local county mental health clinic and see if they have any suggestions and what programs they might offer him. They usually have someone who is jsut there to answer the phone and talk to people. Maybe if you go to your husband armed with information about how they can help, he will be more willing. Also, he can talk to his regular doctor if he still goes. There are very good medications out that can relieve many of his symptoms.

Answer 5

In most communities there are mental health clinics that operate on a sliding scale. I would contact one of them and see if they have anyone who goes out to see agoraphobics(the condition your husband has developed as a result of his panic disorder.) There are several good medications that would rapidly take care of the panic disorder, but he will still need some help with his agoraphobia. Best of luck!

Answer 6

This is certainly a mental disorder as his thinking is causing him to lead a dysfunction life. He needs help and he needs it immediately. Many mental health centers will treat for little or no charge. Call them first, and make an appointment to talk to them yourself. If that does not work, talk to the social services department of your state. Finally if neither work, call your state's crisis line (not the suicide line) yourself and explain the problem. The following is the national line; most states have local lines and can be found in the front of you phone book where they list important answers.

1-800-273-TALK

"

Answer 7

It would be good to get some Godly counselling either w/ a pastor at your church or you can go to www.doersoftheword.org and the pastor there has a toll free # you can call. He can give you some good Godly advice & help you. (Best of all it is free)
Another site that has a 24hr service to help you & give Godly advice is http://www.jesus2u.org/

It is always good to talk to someone when times are really tough.

What helped me open my heart to the Lord was reading "Power of a Praying Woman" by Stormie Omartian. She also has the book "Power of a praying Wife"
Prayer is very powerful dear friend.

Always know that God loves you and hears your prayers. God wants you to ask Him to help in this situation. Ask Him to come into your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-13
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Matt 11:28
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Numbers 6:24-26
24 “The LORD bless you and keep you;
25 The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”’

Here is a Love letter from Almighty God to you.
All scripture and very encouraging.
http://www.fathersloveletter.com/flltextenglish.html

I pray the best for you & your husband.

Answer 8

look, he absolutely CAN be hospitalized due to his panic disorder..... The panic can be overcome, but it might require inpatient treatment - there is nothing wrong with this, and once he gets treatment, he will see that you did the right thing.

call the doctor, or hospital and get some advice...

Good luck...

Answer 9

when a mental health issue begins to cause that kind of interference with life, hospitalization is really your only recourse. If he won't do it willingly, then you will have to have him committed involuntarily. Call your local police station, often they will help, call your local mental health clinic, there are many in the phone book and ask for assistance. He cannot at this point help himself, you need to do this for him.

Answer 10

a good therapist is the best
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