My daughter

I am new to the site so I hope I am in the right place. I have been diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression and I am on medication for that as well as councelling. I have had it most of my life but took a turn of the worst after my second daughter was born. This has caused stress for my husband as well as my children. I have two daughters one 14 and 11. Now my 11 yr old daughter is having panic attacks when going to school. For the last two weeks she has refused to go and I have kept her home. I have talked to the family doctor and we are on a waiting list to see a child Psychiatrist. He said I have to make sure she goes to school. This morning I took her with my husband and she was beside herself to say the least. Her teacher came and got her. He is aware of the situation as well. I need some support and need to know that I am doing the right thing and will not push her to far. I feel so helpless, any information would be greatly appreciated.

Hi, Sandy. My name is Christina. That is horrible. I started to have panic attacks when I was 21, and that must be difficult for your daughter. Either your daughter could be homeschooled or work through the anxiety. Although, that's difficult on a little girl when she probably has anxiety already trying to adapt and wanting to feel accepted by others.
I have severe anxiety too. I thought I'd ask you.......how have you adapted since you've had children? I would like children. I've been married for 2 years, and my husband and I want a child within a year. Do you have any advice or encouragement to ease my anxiety? I am worried how my anxiety will be when I have my own children. My husband and I might adopt someday and I wonder how I will handle being a parent with having severe anxiety.

I just recently started having panic attacks, extreme anxiety. although my problem has not gone so far as to keep me out of social engagements, I feel for you and dealing with this problem in a child so youg. It is hard enough as an adult to go through this. I wonder how long you have to be on a waiting list to see a doctor. I am from the United States, and finding phycharists for a child is rather easy...I guess finding the right one is a different story. I know that for me, right now, I have to take mediciation at the onset of an attack (xanxax) and just started taking zoloft which will be a couple of weeks before it starts to work effectivly, and then I will be slowly weened off the xanxax. a regular doctor can prescribe some form of immediate help for child, especially since the school issue is at hand. As a mother myself, I feel for you. There might be some remedies you can try when the attacks start. Vix vapor rub under the nose works well for difficulty in breathing/swallowing. There is also a breathing excerise that can be done with your child laying on her back and breathing to make sure the diaphram is expanding correclty. this should be practiced regulary (couple of times a day) and NOT at the onset of an attack..that could make it worse. Do a search on the internet for this excerise, there is a little more to it than what i have described. Good luck to you.

hey sandy

wow things must be really hard for you at the moment i really feel for you ....

having anxiety is scarey enough without being a child too !!! , i remember when i were younger n panic attacks etc well it scared the hell outta me mainly because i never understood what was going on as you know what is going on maybe this can give you a kick start on to your daughters recovery ...
maybe shes worried about you !!!!

That must be so hard for you both. My boyfriend has anxiety and although has panic attacks less frequently now, he feels in an almost constant nervous state. It can be hard to support him sometimes as it's frustrating that so many things we try to make it easier don't seem to work. Having panic attacks/anxiety yourself must make it harder for you as you know how terrible she is feeling, but also easier as you understand it.
The things we've found help mainly is the understanding of why a panic attack happens and to try to go with it instead of fighting against it. Eating lots of fibreous foods like cereals help keep his general mental state happier which seems to lessen the attacks. Learning not to let the attacks take over her life is probably the most important thing. I think encouraging her to go to school will help in the long run as then she will be used to people around he knowing about the attacks. My boyfriend's friends don't know about his, and he has only told his family recently (he's 26, and has had the attacks since his parents split up when he was 8) It makes it very difficult for him to go out with his friends as he worries he will have an attack and they wont understand why he is acting strange or has to leave suddenly.

Being open with it I would think would make it a lot easier to deal with in every day life.

Hi Sandy,

My name is Janine and I know exactly how you feel! My son has been unwell for some years now, first he was diagnosed with depresion and then he had insomnia and I did the same as you, forced him into school etc. we had so many fights where I was forcing him to do things which I thought he was just trying to get out of doing, by the way he is 15 now. Eventually his GP referred him to a therapist who said that his problems were due to "lack of confidence" however after various sessions the problems were getting worse and he saw another therapist who said he has 'OCD' Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. He had a further 3 hour sessions and each and every time he felt worse when he came out. He had his first panic attack in July last year although at the time we did not recognise it his second one came in August this year and since then he has been having them on a regualar basis. Since this has happened I have learnt an awful lot regarding Anxiety Disorder, Panic Attacks and OCD and I am pleased to say that I can now see a light at the end of the tunnel although it hasnt been easy. I have found a therapist that actually knows what he is doing after 3 sessions I have actually noticed an improvement and have beleif that my son is actually going to get beter. I was told that forcing him to school only added to the problem and my son has only been to school 3 days since the beguinning of term they need to be taught how to deal with and handle the situation and not just be plonked into it.

The important thing is never give up looking for answers and I hope you find the right solution for you.

Good Luck and Best Wishes

Janine x

Hi Sandy,

My name is Janine and I know exactly how you feel! My son has been unwell for some years now, first he was diagnosed with depression and then he had insomnia and I did the same as you, forced him into school etc. we had so many fights where I was forcing him to do things which I thought he was just trying to get out of doing, by the way he is 15 now. Eventually his GP referred him to a therapist who said that his problems were due to "lack of confidence" however after various sessions the problems were getting worse and he saw another therapist who said he has 'OCD' Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. He had a further 3 hour sessions and each and every time he felt worse when he came out. He had his first panic attack in July last year although at the time we did not recognise it his second one came in August this year and since then he has been having them on a regualar basis. Since this has happened I have learnt an awful lot regarding Anxiety Disorder, Panic Attacks and OCD and I am pleased to say that I can now see a light at the end of the tunnel although it hasnt been easy. I have found a therapist that actually knows what he is doing after 3 sessions I have actually noticed an improvement and have belief that my son is actually going to get beter. I was told that forcing him to school only added to the problem and my son has only been to school 3 days since the begiunning of term they need to be taught how to deal with and handle the situation and not just be plonked into it.

The important thing is never give up looking for answers and I hope you find the right solution for you.

Good Luck and Best Wishes

Janine x