Daughter in Law suffering from Anxiety

@melissa123 I'm sorry to hear your daughter-in-law is suffering like this. I absolutely agree with her, she may want to get a complete physical workup by her primary care doctor first. There might be something else that is causing these feelings of anxiety, and we should always rule out any physical concerns. Good for her for thinking like this!

I hope she follows her gut instinct. Will you let us know what she decides, and finds out, please?
Ginger

@melissa123 @gingerw

The physical and mental are not sepearate. Mind/Body. This is the mistake people make.

Your daughter in law should address entire lifestyle, physical and emotional. And hormones run the entire body.
With being a mother and having 2 young children that she has, she needs to start with how she handles stress and if she is fully caring for herself physically with adequate sleep, nutrition and breaks.

Doctors do very little consulting on the importance of overall lifestyle and well being. Unfortunately medication can be a crutch or bandaid for some but it is not a cure as the individual must do the work in the interim and pills are often not the answer especially if the person doesn’t look with in to do the deeper work.

@melissa123 With two very young children I'm thinking your daughter-in-law is overwhelmed and so no wonder she is anxious. The panic attacks she has on occasion must be very frightening for her.

You didn't mention if she sees a mental health therapist. Medication can be helpful but it sounds like it's not working well enough for your daughter-in-law. In addition to working with her primary care physician on her physical health I'd also like to recommend mental health therapy for the following reasons. Therapy with a mental health clinician who your daughter-in-law "clicks" with will help her learn about and pull up resources within herself that she may not realize that that she has. Her doctor may have a recommendation for a mental health therapist or she might like to contact a local mental health agency or medical center.

I strongly recommend against going to BetterHelp.com or similar on-line companies. I have read research that indicates betterhelp.com is not beneficial or effective for clients who are required to pay out-of-pocket ( no insurance is accepted).

Here is a good resource for your daughter-in-law to look for a state licensed mental health therapist in her local area:

Psychology Today: Find a Therapist

-- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists

Thank you. She went through some therapy sessions. I don't know much about them but my son said she really didn't get much out of it. She is very overwhelmed with the kids. Right now my son is home too so she is not alone with them. Unfortunately she turns to alcohol. She is a terrible drunk. She doesn't drink daily but she will binge drink. My son loves her very much but probably wouldn't be with her if he didn't have 2 and 4 year old. He is worried about leaving the kids with her because when she drinks, she is a mess. She comes from a nice family but no one believes in medication there. I know medication isn't everything but my daughter is bipolar and without the proper medication, she wouldn't be who she is today. She can't function without her meds.

Her Dr. felt no need to have a hormone test. She will be going to her OBGYN. Truth being, she has always had anxiety. Most of the family has anxiety.

I don't think she gets enough sleep. and I certainly think she needs to do some inner work. Thanks!

@melissa123

That will do it. Lack of sleep throws off cortisol levels (hormone), lack of sleep causes stress (increase cortisol) lack of sleep causes depression/anxiety).
Sleep is not just to close our eyes and rest. During sleep the brain and body repair itself.

That’s the first place to start.

Educating oneself first and foremost on all that is affecting them externally/internally is key.

No primary care doctor is going to take that time with a patient. As their job is to facilitate RXs and get the patient out the door.

Sorry for the blunt and honesty-but it’s true. Doctors pills don’t fix anxiety/panic attack.

I have suffered with Panic/Anxiety disorder since my early teens. I've taken medication off and on since my early twenties. I would self medicate with marijuana and alcohol to calm the out of control, excessive worrying and feelings of impending doom.
Later in life when perimenopause hit and I'd been clean and sober for many years the Panic/Anxiety attacks came back with a vengeance! It absolutely can be due to hormonal imbalance.
I see a psychiatrist for medication ( I've tried many ) I take a benzodiazepine which works great for me but it was my last choice because nothing else worked for me.
I'm also in therapy and that has helped me learn coping skills, it has changed my life.
I would suggest she see someone who is willing to do a hormone level workup. Find a therapist who specializes in DBT. Try a different medication and stop self medicating which ultimately makes the Panic/Anxiety worse.
Wishes her peace and comfort of mind, body and spirit. I know from experience this is not an easy journey and one no one wants to take but it can be managed with the right med and hard work.

I have to disagree!
The right Dr and medication along with counseling and hard work, can and does help many with panic/anxiety disorders.

@melissa123

I just read this reply. This is why I always ask questions before I respond.

I’m sorry your daughter in law drinks everyday and is a mess.

Unfortunately an SSRI will not help this person as the root cause is not just a chemical imbalance. In your other reply you stated your daughter in law wants to get her hormones checked?
Yeah -she needs to start from within. Daily drinking on its own without 2 small children is a disaster.

Again- this is why I always ask questions before replying about medication for depression/anxiety. It is a slippery slope for someone whom thinks a pill is the answer to their poor life choices.

Hope she finds the help she needs.