My husband is having problems & will not go to the doctor.

We have been together 6 years & it has gotten worse over the years. He has very servere anxiety to the point that he doesn't want to go anywhere. I also think that the anxiety is causing him to have very bad stomach problems. For over a year now he takes an immodium before work so he will not have diar. everyday. He went to the doc. about a year ago about the anxiety & the gave him Zoloft first & then Lexepro, he did not like either of them. I think that he needs help to get on something but what do I do when I can't even get him out of the house to go to the doctor.

Do you think you could get him to read? There are a lot of good self-help books out there. I'm currently reading the "Feeling Good Handboord" by Dr. Burns and it has helped me. Also - does he know about this board? It could be a real source of support and encouragement if he's willing. Just trying to understand and be there for him is HUGE to him - even though it may be frustrating for you. Hang in there - these things are cyclical.

any anxiety recovery self help book will have good advice, try reading 1 to him
is he having panic attacks or does he have phobias, look these trerms up on the net
his meds were antidepressants but dont work for everyone

he needs a valium type med to relax both his mind and muscles but these can be very difficult to get nowdays, a largish dose will allow him to see a doc

eventually if he wont make any effort to help himself, you may run the risk of becoming his private fulltime psychiatric nurse, especially of he stops working

He acts more like it is phobias. He doesn't want to talk to anyone. It is to the point that he asks me to call people on the phone. I myself am taking Lexapro and it really helps for me, but he said that it seemed to make it worse for him. He has talked about not wanting medicine that messes with his head. I really do think that he needs help but don't know what to do.

it does sound like some phobia or phobia's are going on.When I first starting experiancing anxiety disorder for that first year I hardly left the house and didnt want to answer phone too.The day i was diagnosed with anxiety disoer the therapist also told me I was border line agoraphobic and I needed to join to support group or make myself get out of the house .....He didnt want to give me meds because of some of the other symptoms he feared would get worse with meds.Pretty much what I did was made myself take a walk or drive for a few minute every day no matter how bad I felt.
The self help books sound like a great idea to me.I really dont know what to do to make your hub go to the doctor.I am sure you have told him you are worried about him etc. maybe try and get some other family members in on this to try and coax him into the doctors office.

I hope he goes soon

That sounds alot like how my husband is. Do you take any type of medication for it?

hi again
No I am currently not taking any medication.I didnt take medication to get out that rut back then either I had to force myself to take baby steps .I would go outside every day for a walk or drive even if it was only a couple minutes.After doing this for a while I lost the fear of leaving my house.I still had high anxiety symptoms though mostly the physical symptoms.It took a good year for all that to subside.The thing is for most with anxiety disorder it comes and goes I can feel good and anxiety free for years then it comes back BIGTIME when that happens I get on medication for temp time.The last meds I took were prozac and clonopin (an anti depressant and a benzo tranquilizer).The medication worked for me I felt normal again there was a side effect of being tired all the time,but the benifit outweighed the cost.
It would be great if you could get your hubby to go the doctor.If he wont try and just get him to leave the house with you take a walk or anything.
The thing is if he isnt willing to help himself nobody else can either.Maybe go threw this board and find stories like his and look up anxiety disorder and agoraphobia and print out the stuff.Then try and go to him with the information you collect.This may (hopefully) cause him to want to see a doctor and or get out of the house he may see he really has nothing to fear at least not anything life thretening.

good luck,I am here if you have any other questions,comments :wave:

Thanks You Guys have been a great help!