living with someone who has generalized anxiety disorder?
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My Mom has pretty severe generalized anxiety disorder, and especially in the situation she's in now im sure her anxiety has quadrupled. Being in the middle of an expensive divorce, struggling to sell her home, and her child being a crystal meth addict, it's no wonder she is so overwhelmed.
I think she tries to soothe her anxieties by perfection, or cleaning. I know when she's really stressed she runs around frantically cleaning the house, painting every stratch on the wall, scrubbing every dirt molecule on the floor. And then claims that we (me and my brother) don't care about her because we don't have straight As and we didn't do the dishes..
I wish she could understand that those thoughts arn't rational, and don't even make sense.
She is constantly so irritated, little things set her off completely. It's really difficult to live with, especially since she cannot understand that normal people and her children don't have the same mind set as her and we don't fear failure nearly as much.
Another thing, I ask, and sometimes have reduced to beg, for her to try medication. She's tried like zoloft and prozac and xanax, but never takes it for more than two weeks. And xanax she rarely will take (except for that one month peroid after her husband left her) but we're not going to talk about that.
I guess my point is, she doesn't realize that the problems she's made in her life so huge, are in ACTUALITY not as intense as she thinks. She thinks she's very rational, and realistic. And i'm sure she thinks that this is it for her, and she's stuck in this never ending suffering of overwhelming and anxiety.
So i guess my question is, is there anything i can do to help her overcome GAD ?
I've actually considered placing zoloft pills in her foods, but I'm sure that's illegal, but I am so desperate for her to overcome this, not only for her children's sanity but for her own.
Is there anything I can say to her? Do you think showing her the reality versus her thoughts will do anything? When she freakingout over nothing, ive said (probably in not the nicest tone) things like "Mom, it's really not a big deal as you think it is" but she just blows up, says i don't understand because I have it so easy, or says hurtful things back to me pointing out my flaws.
Do you think if I brought up her excessive disordered thoughts in a way that shows the actual medical terms, and that her thoughts arn't reality it's just a symptom of a chemical imbalance in her brain, would that help? Does that help?
Please. Help us.
Tags: actuality, addict, anxieties, brother don, crystal meth, dirt, discount medical, dishes, divorce, fear failure, generalized anxiety disorder, Medication, molecule, peroid, pills, prozac, sanity, stratch, xanax, zoloft
April 17th, 2011 at 7:44 am
Hello!
I am sorry to hear about your mom’s problems. I have severe generalized anxiety disorder and from what i read in your message, your mother is not as sick as you can think. I say this because she seems to be functioning in her every day life. People with severe anxiety disorder can have days when it is impossible to get out of bed. In my particular case, when i am really sick, i have flu-like symptoms that render me totally exhausted and in pain. Further, i am unable to swallow and so i lose tons of weight in days. What your mother is experiencing is normal anxiety from her life situations. She could benefit from a mild dose of a benzo medication such as xanax or clonopin. Anything like Zoloft, Prozac etc., will take about 4 weeks to fully help her and after that leaving the medication will also be close to impossible. SSRIs, the medication type zoloft pertains to (as well as Prozac, Paxil, etc.) are supposed not to be addictive as benzos are. But the withdrawal effects are so severe that most people are unable to EVER quit them. Benzos are addictive but can be of great help in situations like that of your mother’s. Most people can use them and later quit them. For more natural approaches to helping your mom, suggest Yoga or any other excercise she likes. Chamomile and orange blossom teas are soothing and help sleep. Meditation is also a good idea. Finally, therapy with a good consulor could definitely be a life-saver. Please, leave the medications as a last resort.
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