Help with Brother - Panic Disorders Message Board

drock · 09-08-2003, 08:33 AM

Hi all,
I am new to the board but have been following it for a while. My younger brother has recently been diagnosed with an Anxiety Disorder, it seems to have stemmed from my Parents getting divorced about a year and a half ago. After the divorce he dropped out of college and decided he was going to take some time off. He know lives far from home and is currently taking Paxil, Xanax, and something else to aid with sleeping. Before he moved, he got a DWI because he was drinking on his medication. I spoke with some of his friends and i beleive he is also drinks and smokes marijuana everyday! I beleive he has a problem but i do not know what to do. He has recently recieved another DWI, where he now lives. My parents are afraid to do anyhting drastic in case he rebels more than he already has but I feel he is hurting for some attention. I love my brother very much and it is killing me to see him like this, What do i do??
Thanks for your input!!

D R

raas · 09-08-2003, 02:47 PM

Did he use drugs BEFORE his anxiety?

My anxiety and panic attacks (like many others) came around due to too much ecstasy pills

hry33 · 09-08-2003, 03:03 PM

Hi Drock,
he is on the right meds but I suggest you get some books on overcoming anxiety and panic attacks and read them, then try to get him to follow the advice

he may be self medicating with alcahol, suggesting the meds doses need adjusting

heavy drinking on his meds is bad.

fm5 · 09-09-2003, 03:29 PM

Drock:

Your brother needs to get an array of help. When I read your post I shuttered because I have a brother who started drinking because of panic attacks. It led to about 10 YEARS OF SEVERE DRINKING!

Your brother needs to:

1. Get counseling from a psychologist who specializes in panic disorder.

2. When he sees his psychiatrist for the medication he is on he should tell him/her about his taking drugs with the medications. You can also tell him that what he is doing is dangerous.

2. Go to A.A./alanon meetings.

3. Learn about panic disorder, how it operates, and how to overcome it.

I hate to say it, but I will: your brother's life looks like it is falling apart between quitting college, losing his driver's license and drinking and drugging. He needs serious help.

TypeRighter · 09-09-2003, 08:54 PM

Drock, all is not lost. I drank for a very long time, probably accounted for 5% of the U.S.'s gross national product -- and I got a DUI -- and I dropped out of school for a while and I was unemployed...

... and now I'm rich and good looking.

... okay, I'm neither of those things -- but -- you're not going to be able to do anything for your brother until he himself thinks he's gotta change. Until then, he's just going to do the exact opposite of what you tell him to do. Unless, of course, you have a massive intervention with all of his friend.

Best thing to do right now is just talk to him a lot, keep in close contact so he doesn't feel alone, and monitor the situation. When the time is right, you'll know when he's ready and receptive to hear the right things, basically all the stuff fm5 suggested.

Good luck...