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He Doesn't Feel Like Himself

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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
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Posted 12/14/2011 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone. Ever since my boyfriend's been hit with his health-related anxiety he has not been himself at all. He says he feels a bit better while we walk, but other than that he doesn't feel all there and he doesn't feel like himself. His mind will wander off to fearful thoughts like dying or his blood sugar dropping to deadly levels, or other stuff like that. He KNOWS they're stupid and he'll tell me straight up when he's panicking they're stupid, but he tells me "I can't explain that to my anxiety. Anxiety is telling me this is the worst thing imaginable and I need to panic."

We FINALLY found him a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist to go to that will take his insurance and he's going Thursday. I a hoping that going to a therapist will help him. I know going to a therapist won't be quick fix and he'll need to go to many sessions, but I hope with help he can solve his anxiety for life. He refuses to take pills, so I'm crossing my fingers that this works.

But my questions are: What do you do to make yourself feel like you? He says that he's physically there but he doesn't feel like he can control his environment or can't process it very well. And have any of you gone to a CBT? Has it helped you any?

Thanks!!
Posted 12/14/2011 9:25 AM (GMT 0)
CBT actually should help faster than other forms of therapy. They will teach him how to deal with his thoughts. Sounds like your BF has typical anxiety, he is definitely not alone. I feel the same thing very often and unfortunately I can't afford CBT so I'm taking some relaxant drug when I feel this way (not antidepressant). As I know, both combination of medication and therapy works best. It is not necessary that he will have to take antidepressants, maybe they will prescribe him some mild sedative if he is under stress lately. This should go away, don't worry. Also, a lot of good posts available online, just Google it. Or on Youtube too. Some anxiety techniques ( relaxation, exercises to take your mind away, breathing) you probably could do this with him. I know, it is sounds boring, but 10 min a day will help a lot. I hope he will feel better soon and pls be patient with him, he is not sick, it is temporary.
Posted 12/14/2011 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hi

Good to meet you. Sorry to here you boy friend is having health related anxiety I can relate on that one, It really can consume your life and even though you know the thoughts are not true you still get them which is worrying in itself. It is important to have a good support network and it sound like you are doing a good job supporting him as it can be difficult to understand what is going on.

CBT works well for people who have anxiety related disorders and it is all about identifying the triggers which make you anxious and then ways of breaking the cycle of the anxious thoughts through techniques which you learn during the therapy which is usually 8 weeks. Medication and therapy together does work well and I have gone down that route but the decision of taking medication is a personal one.

I hope he does well at the CBT and let us know how he is getting on.

Hibee
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