Sister's anxiety problems?!
Question: Hey everyone. I've been dealing with a tough situation for awhile now with my sister. She suffers from high anxiety level and has frequent panic attacks (I'm pretty sure that's why they would qualify as). We went off to college together this year, and I'm sure that this adjustment has caused a lot of the struggle. She's pretty close with my mom and she used to help her through her anxiety, so I have been trying to help her as much as possible since we aren't living with her anymore. She tries not to over-worry, but does sub-consciously, giving her an unexplainable nervous feeling at different times. Does anyone know anything I can do to help her? I've tried talking about stuff that stresses her out, but it only helps a little. If anyone has any advice or knows what she's going through, can you please help me. I really want her to feel like herself again. Sorry for the length!
Answers: Hey everyone. I've been dealing with a tough situation for awhile now with my sister. She suffers from high anxiety level and has frequent panic attacks (I'm pretty sure that's why they would qualify as). We went off to college together this year, and I'm sure that this adjustment has caused a lot of the struggle. She's pretty close with my mom and she used to help her through her anxiety, so I have been trying to help her as much as possible since we aren't living with her anymore. She tries not to over-worry, but does sub-consciously, giving her an unexplainable nervous feeling at different times. Does anyone know anything I can do to help her? I've tried talking about stuff that stresses her out, but it only helps a little. If anyone has any advice or knows what she's going through, can you please help me. I really want her to feel like herself again. Sorry for the length!
If her anxiety is extremly persistant she should get some kind of help. And I don't mean like straight to meds bullshit, I mean like therapy, or talking to a professional.
I know it all involves money. Maybe money isn't that big of an issue to you, it has been for me. But try to find someway that is afforadable to get professional help, but I feel for her, because I've had anxiety for sometime. Im just naturally a very worried person, but mostly it comes from certain social situations, like public presentations, public speaking (Im very shy) and other random worries. For example when I started to except the fact that I am bisexual, attracted to the same-sex, coming out and being ok without in myself was a really hard effort for me, mostly certain specific internal issues about my personality, like my social phobia and sexuality, was very hard just because I felt so anxious and overly pressured.
All Im saying is perhaps she has some personal worries/issues like I do. I mean they are issues and problems, but we all have them, and truly people like us who are overly anxious make these delimmas bigger than they are. I definitly think talking to councilers and having some therapy sessions has helped me see things in a clearer light. Perhaps she doesnt have her mother to speak to, but someone who has a motherly sense, like a female counciler perhaps, who has some professional background, can help her cope. No one should have to live constantly with strong anxiety. We all have problems but anxiety makes our problems doubled or even tripeled. Try and get some more help for her, shes very lucky though that she has you.. ;)
Perhaps medication might be help if she has drastic drastic issues, but I always believe talking and professional advice is best first.
She needs to see a professional. She can begin with her doctor who may suggest anti-anxiety meds and counseling.
k i have panic attacks they suck, my ex boyfriend is the only person that can calm me down. I have to take meds when its really bad... the only thing she can do besides meds it to have someone calmly remind her to breath when she has an episode and it helps to slowly breathe in and out with her so she can hear you and she will eventually calm down and breathe with you.. keep reminding her to breathe until she calms down... this can even work over the phone sometimes.. but if its really bad she needs to talk to a doc and get some meds for the onset of an attack..
Claire P is dead on...I have panic attacks also, and talking the person through it and reminding them to breath is the best thing you can do.
she needs help