I was just wondering how everyone's spouses/significant others handle the anxiety. My husband is really supportive, but I know he gets frustrated and doesn't know what to do for me. He keeps saying he wants me to be happy and outgoing again like I was when we first started dating. I know they suffer right along with us.

I thank god everyday I have my boyfriend. When I met him about a year ago I was already deep into my anxiety but he has helped me so much through this journey of finding meds and getting better. I think that helped me more then the meds do sometimes. You need to support whether it be from your husband, boyfriend, family, friends.

my fiance does the best he can. since i mostly get anxiety at night and he has to get up early everyday for work, theres only so much he can do. he stays up with me untill he just shuts down, and i like it better that way, i dont want him losing sleep over my problems. when he is up with me, he tries everything he can. i love him so much for what he does try to do, even tho he mostly tried to hug me and stay close to me and that flips me out more, lol.

I'm really fortunate as well. My husband is amazing. My attacks have only ever happened on the weekend and at night so he will usually sit up with me and try and talk to me and distract me until I get through it. I can't believe how patient he is. Even when I'm crying hysterically he keeps his cool and helps me until I can fall asleep. I'm so lucky to have him.

My husband does the best he can, but I know he is suffering greatly too. Most of the time he is completely there and supportive, but he does break down and lash out toward me sometimes. Our first anniversary is coming up and I look back on this first year of marriage and see mostly dark, dark times, lots of irrational terror, panic, and depression. I feel terrible for giving that to him. But what can you do? Just try harder in the future.

Good morning all ---- I also have a great husband and two grown daughters who have talked me through the attacks many times. They know when to talk and when to just listen. Have been in counseling off and on since my 20's for this and am now in my 50's and am back in counseling for the past 6 months. When i'm alone I talk to myself alot to try to reassure myself that I am safe. Started to aquire a fear of going out alone about 8 months ago. I was Ok for a shor ttime if with someon eI trusted. just last week went out to run a few errrands alone and was pretty good for the first 2 and then the panic started. I was almost done so just got myelf home and was actually for the first time proud that I accomplished it and not annoyed at myself for having to cut it a little short. It is so hard to get them under control but we all need people around us who understand and don't jump the gun and judge us. That to me is the biggest help. A great day to all.

ICC

My wife has really tried being supportive, and is relieved to see that I am making a first step towards relieving my physical and mental anxiety symptoms by setting an appointment to see a psychiatrist for eval and meds as well as a therapist for "Talk Therapy" (I'm going to get the meds first and then start the Therapy once I'm a little more like my old self). I have had anxiety since about 15 but have never really thought of it as a disorder. About 3 months ago I began to feel my chest and throat tighten up and have heavy pressure on it almost all the time. After getting some tests done by a couple of different doctors for my heart and lungs they both determined that I had an Anxiety Disorder.

At first she was sad and frustrated because she felt helpless to give me any advice other than that "she loved me very much" and that "we will make it through together". I could see how much my anxiety was influencing her own moods and that just made me feel even worse. She would try things like cooking my favorite meals, but I never had an appetite really anymore. She tried to get me to do things but the physical symptoms just pulled me down. I do't want to say I am depressed or anything but the physical symptoms worried me to the point of literally being sick.

I believe that the combo of meds and talk is going to help me and it makes me feel better just knowing that I at least am going in a direction that will hopefully help me out in the weeks to come. My feeling of hope is coming back. Wish me luck everyone.

Best of luck and prayers to you.......Maverick.


ICC

To quote my now ex-wife..."one of us has a problem, and it isn't me". A big help she was.