Supporting Loved One with Anxiety/Panic Attacks

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I apologize ahead of time if this is long-winded.

I am achieving my dream - I start my ADN program next week & while I am looking forward to it, a part of me is worried about what may happen if last night's situation occurs more frequently.

I am currently at work, mentally & physically exhausted from last night/this morning.

My boyfriend called me at 12:30am. He was having severe chest pains, dizziness, a racing pulse, and what he said was a "stabbing pain in his brain." He has gone to the doctor before and was prescribed Klonopin PRN. Usually, I just stay on the phone with him until he starts feeling more "normal."

Last night was a different story, his head/neck pain was getting worse & eventually, he asked me to come over, because he thought that something was really wrong. I tried & tried to get him to go to the ER & of course, he wouldn't listen to me.

If this happens when I have to be at clinicals at 6:30 the next morning, how am I going to deal with this?

Basically, my question, is how do you support a loved one who is suffering from a panic/anxiety attack? I did all I could to comfort him, but honestly, I feel like I wasn't doing anything. To see the man that I love like that absolutely breaks my heart. :(

I know that he needs to go to the doctor & get on a different medication (as well as go to a therapist!) But, he is so stubborn.

Any advice??

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

How about some tough love? If he won't go to the doctor or go to the ER when he thinks something is really wrong, and seems to place responsiblity for his stability and safety on you...back out of the role and go home...

Panic attacks are tremendously scarey, but if he won't do something to help himself other than call you, and that doesn't help...something needs to change!

...stepping off of soapbox....

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Specializes in chemical dependency detox/psych.
How about some tough love? If he won't go to the doctor or go to the ER when he thinks something is really wrong, and seems to place responsiblity for his stability and safety on you...back out of the role and go home...

Panic attacks are tremendously scarey, but if he won't do something to help himself other than call you, and that doesn't help...something needs to change!

...stepping off of soapbox....

:yeahthat:

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I agree that tough love would be a good place to start, but seeing as this is somebody you care a lot about, be careful not to make him feel alienated and alone. I have high anxiety and the occassional panic attack, and the thing that helps me most is knowing I'm not alone and that I have support. I hope you can find a way to offer that support while still putting him in position to own his health concerns and take care of himself. Good luck!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Thank you everyone for your advice!

Yesterday, when I was talking with him, I told him that he needed to make an appointment with the doctor. He tried to convince me that he didn't need to go...so then I told him, "Well the next time you call me at 12:30 in the morning, I'll just tell you that it's not that big of a deal."

He said that he knows that I would never actually do that, but did call his MD and has an appointment for Monday. :)

Hopefully, we can get all of this stuff under control...for his sake (and my sanity!)

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

Now you have to stay strong, in case he tries to back out of the appointment....

I hope it all works out well for both of you!

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Good for him! My mom suffers from some pretty horrible panic attacks and it took litterally over 10 years before I finally convinced her that she HAD to see her doctor! It took a lot for her to finally make the appt but she did and things are so much better for her now!

I think you chose the exact right words to get hime to see the light w/o sounding too harsh.

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That's great, Aanderson :) I hope that he is open and honest with his doctor on Monday, and that together they can select the best course of action for him.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Hi everyone! I just wanted to give everyone an update about yesterday's appointment (or actually, lack thereof!)

Apparently, his new doctor (primary care) said that he "isn't so quick to assume" that he has been having panic/anxiety attacks, due to the duration of his attacks (around 2 hours for the last one.)

So, off to the cardiologist we go...(for a stress test.) I'm just hoping for some answers...and hopefully, a way for him to not feel the way that he did last week.

And of course, he started classes today (his last semester to get his Bachelor's.) So, it's going to be "impossible" for him to see the cardiologist before the end of the semester. As always, I'm up for the challenge!

Let the nagging begin (tomorrow afternoon...after my first day of nursing school!) :)

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