Anxiety n/c

[Bawndoh]

Recently my fiance has been diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder.  He has been the worried/nervous type since I met him 4 1/2 years ago, but we thought it was a personality trait.  He suffered from stomach pain of all kinds, is always tired, stressed, and "sketchy".  I say sketchy, because he was telling a lot of little white lies here and there, and wasn't even realizing it.  He had many medical procedures, and was given several different prescriptions in order to try to fix his stomach pains.  None of which found anything, or helped in any way.
Now that we have a diagnosis, it explains a LOT.  It explains almost every little issue from the last 4 years!  Every fib told, every exhausting day/night, every stomach pain, and most arguments!  ;D.  We pretty much lived blind...never guessing it was an anxiety problem.  Recently, we found a survey on-line that has you check off symptoms.  Having over 20 symptoms meant the anxiety was severe.  He had 24!

I guess what I am getting at is...we cannot believe "anxiety" never crossed our minds!  We are living fairly stressful lives at the moment...but still, never thought of the "A" word.
He has inquired with a therapist, and we are going to just try general things...talking through problems, reducing stress, taking on an exercise "program", reducing financial stresses, and maybe some acupuncture . 

I am sure other SP's have dealt with Anxiety.  How were you/or a loved one diagnosed, how do you deal with everyday life, and what helps calm you/them?

 

[Bawndoh]

URL to the site I referred to is: www.maritalhealing.com/conflicts/anxiousspouse.php

 

[Cowboy]

Bawndoh -- My wife of 32 years has, and has had, clinical depression for as long as I can remember. Earlier, things were not as bad -- she would do small little tihngs to get out of doing something she was secretly afraid of IE -- going to town sometimes meant driving in heavy traffic which freaked her out -- so she would at times say she didn't feel well, or was ill for some reason, letting me go to town for groceries instead.

For several years I never seen the trend. Then her father passed away and she went off the deep end. She cried constantly over things that never used to bother her, even though of suicide once or twice. I finally decided it was something serious.

Sure enough, without much trouble at all when she was feeling good one day -- I had decided it was doctor time. INstead of going to town for dinner -- the real trip was a stop at the clinic. She was madder than a wet hen, and we almost had to carry her in there. Once the doc got her to set down and talk, it was a downhill slide to what was really wrong.

A couple prescriptions later -- and just a couple weeks of time -- you would never know her. She is full of life now, happy and goes to town with no prompting whatever all by her self. Some would say that is no big deal, but let me tell you -- once true depression sets in clinicly -- things go south in a hurry.

The signs are all there for your soon to be husband's deepening depression. It is discreet -- and it will slowly eat you alive. It afects not only your day time routine, but lots of sleepless nights as well. No energy, no desire to do anything, not even eat right.

Those little tabs -- no paxil or the other well known one, but a different one, DID give me my wife back.

It would be well worth the effort to check out depression on the net, itis totally different than being depressed over losing a calf or having a bad day -- it is a hormone defficiency in the brain. Easily fixed it seems, but hard to pin point. The signs are there

I hope this will not upset you in any way -- but one thing for sure, I felt compelled to at least dicuss this here in case it would do some good for you and yours. Take care and best of luck -- it will get better!

Terry

 

[nkotb]

My wife has anxiety and it can be very difficult to live with at times.  The medicine did not help much, however, she did find a therapist to talk to, and became very active in our church.  I know it sounds cliche but God will protect you as long as you are willing to accept it.  The other things that helped were to make sure she got plenty of sunshine.  She would stay in the house all day, and when I started making her go outside to do things she enjoyed the anxiety was a lot less severe.  One last thought, winter is coming, and for us that means a lot of cold which makes it increasingly harder to spend time outside and a lot less sunshine during the day.  This always makes her anxiety worse.  If needed, feel free to PM if you feel you need someone to talk to who has been through this.

 

[ELBEE]

David wrote this nearly 3000 years ago, and an ole' Cowboy translated like this.

I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. I will constantly speak of His glories and grace. I will boast of all His kindness to me. Let all who are discouraged take heart. Let us praise the Lord together, and exalt His name.
For I cried to Him and He answered me! He freed me from all my fears. Others too were radiant at what He did for them. Theirs was no downcast look of rejection! This poor man cried to the Lord-and the Lord heard him and saved him out of his troubles. For the Angel of the Lord guards and rescues all who reverence Him.
Oh, put God to the test and see how kind He is! See for yourself the way His mercy showers down on all who trust Him. If you belong to the Lord, reverence Him; for everyone who does this has everything he needs. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those of us who reverence the Lord will never lack any good thing.
Sons and daughters, come and listen and let me teach you the importance of trusting and fearing the Lord. Do you want a long, good life? Then watch your tongue! Keep your lips from lying. Turn from all known sin and spend your time in doing good. Try to live in peace with everyone; work hard at it.
For the eyes of the Lord are intently watching all who live good lives, and He gives attention when they cry to Him. But the Lord has made up His mind to wipe out even the memory of evil men from the earth. Yes, the Lord hears the good man when he calls to Him for help, and saves him out of his troubles.
Th Lord is close to those whose hearts are breaking; He rescues those who are humbly sorry for their sins. The good man does not escape all troubles- he has them too. But the Lord helps him in each and every one. God even protects him from accidents.
Calamity will surely overtake the wicked; heavy penalties are meted out to those who hate the good. But as for those who serve the Lord, He will redeem them; everyone who takes refuge in Him will be freely pardoned.   

 

[Bawndoh]

Thank You for all of your kind, wonderful guidance. 
I do know the lord is there to help guide us every day, and even more so if we are willing to give him our hearts and minds in love and appreciation.
The lord is a pretty awesome guy!