My adolescent daughter had an anxiety episode 5 years ago (she was 7 at the time) which lasted 3-4 months. For these last 5 years she has been mature, and managing challenges in her life anxiety free (normal levels of stress). She even liked horror movies. She is now a young teen and she saw something terrifying on TV one night. She had a nightmare about it and was hysterical for days. The hysteria subsided, but the anxiety set in and made itself at home, and ever since then she has never been the same. The old anxiety and worries (death, aloneness etc) have returned and she is saddened by it. Every day around the same time each day, she becomes sullen and fearful. It lasts for a couple of hours while she distracts or "talks" herself out of it. Interestingly, the anxiety episode occurred the same time as it did last time -- in the fall (late Oct). She is back in therapy and is diagnosed with anxiety. Anytime she's had a strange illness or mood, it has always been in Oct/Nov.
Can anxiety disorders just disappear for years and return like this? Is there a significance with seasons? What about her daily mood swing? We are looking at virus/toxic exposures. We are hoping it will disappear in Jan/Feb like it did last time, so that we can have our happy vibrant child back. she does not take drugs or medication, other than a multivitamin and Omega-3 fish oil.
Seasons are bad for me, only because it's a reminder of my first panic attack, and wishing to go back 17yrs to that day, the what ifs...what if my husband had been home and not at work that night....what if....(fill in the blank). Also I will tell you my anxiety is more prone during my cycles, she seems to be at an age where she is going through hormonal changes into a young woman.
Now, the everyday issue, the same time-is being set off by a trigger memory, is it the time of day when she saw the movie, or is it a time of day when she is alone (thus feeling less in control if she should have an anxiety attack), is it in a class where she had a previous anxiety episode? You need to help her pinpoint this certain time of day with a previous event. Sure anxiety came come out of the blue at any time, but this type ie 4pm-6pm each day, is a cause to look for a trigger.
thanks Crabbyroad, for responding. The time of day issue, I think, is connected to the fact that the scary item occurred at home, So toward the end of the school day, her mind must know that it's time to go home, THE place where the scary movie and realistic nightmare occurred. The next two hours is typically a time she decompresses for the day. She snacks and watches tv and relaxes. It must be when the scary stuff enters her head. The other times of the day, she is distracted by schoolwork, homework, friends and nighttime videos and shows. Interestingly, she's not afraid of going to sleep. I would imagine that's when I'd be the most scared. I feel bad for her, because she gets sad when she's scared, saying that it interferes with her life. She wants to be happy. Who wouldn't? I tell her that with time her "high alert" status will subside, and eventually disappear. I tell her she's okay. As a mom, I hope and pray that's true.
goodmom
Your doing great goodmom! It is very hard to see your child scared, although, I will tell you mostly importantly, she that she will desensitize as she continues to keep going home, her thoughts will start on a more positive note. Making sure early on that she faces the trigger, will overcome the feelings eventually. Only if she wants to "avoid going home", by staying with friends, or the library, would her high alert status stay in full gear. She is lucky to have you.
Thanks for the words of encouragement, Crabby. Yesterday she was doing fine until the usual, around 4-5. She was anxious, and needed me to confirm that she was safe. We talked for a while and her heart was racing and her face was stressed out and tears were in her eyes. Some of her fears made sense, others superstitious and even irrational. She kept saying, 'how to you know, things are safe?" It's exhausting to constantly reassure someone. She knows that the chemicals/hormones in her body want her to flee, and her mind is looking for a reason. What she'd like it to prevent it from happening in the first place. (Maybe her last-class anxiety isn't about her going home so much as the knowledge that she's got that inevitable sunset battle). Then she gets sad and tearful "will it ever go away?' "what will happen if I don't have you?" Then, after an hour or so, her face brightens, and she laughs at something. She's back. So what about the superstition stuff I ask? "Everything makes sense when I'm not afraid" she answers. Off she goes to her creative work. What happens at dusk? The dark triggers a subconscious bad memory? Serotonin/melotonin levels are in imbalance? Steroids decrease I know -- so histamines increase? A viral fight is being lost? A combo of it all? I wonder if I'm missing something. Thanks for your help.
Goodmom
anxiety returns after years 
Linear Mode
