Hello all. I am obviously new here and I need some help. My wife has battled with both depression and anxiety over the last 13+ years beginning in 1995 when she had a panic attack while driving. At the time she thought she was having a heart attack, a few months later after numerous tests to quell her concerns she was put on anti-anxiety meds.
Her meds seriously changed who she was and they caused us to drift apart until finally we separated in 2005. The month we separated she went off the meds (she has been on several and I do not recall which ones) to recapture her old self. we were separated 5 months, during that time she really seemed to go back to the woman I had married. She lost a lot of weight, stopped just laying around doing nothing. As a result of the changes we reconciled and we have been together for the last 20 months.
For the first year she did not have any problems with anxiety, but the last 6-8 months she had delt with numerous issues. Mostly health related anxiety and it is beginnign to effect us in a negative way. She doesn't want to go back on the meds, started seeing her phychiatrist again who agrees that the meds may not be necessary.
Last week we went on a vation, just the 2 of us, to the carribean and in the days and weeks leading up to our trip she had several health issues. The doctor has run test after test and everything comes back normal. In short she is heathly but neither he nor I can convince her of this. She complains of dizziness, headaches etc. Each time we rule out one simptom she comes up with something new.
This has begun to drive a wedge between us and I am trying to stop it. She resents me because I know her "illness" is not physical (aside from brain chemistry)...and it is pushing us apart.
Honestly I am at my wits end. I am fairly certain she is suffering from hypochondria and she admits that she thinks she is too but she can not stop it. I don't want to lose her and I don't know what to do. Today, after her 3rd anxiety attack since we returned from vacation on Tuesday (late Monday night actually) I told her to call her Dr and go back on the meds because it is clear she is getting worse.
I guess this thread is to ask for help. What meds are good, what work and don't take away your personality. Who can I talk to for support, because I am the one who always has to provide support and there is no one for me to turn to
Her meds seriously changed who she was and they caused us to drift apart until finally we separated in 2005. The month we separated she went off the meds (she has been on several and I do not recall which ones) to recapture her old self. we were separated 5 months, during that time she really seemed to go back to the woman I had married. She lost a lot of weight, stopped just laying around doing nothing. As a result of the changes we reconciled and we have been together for the last 20 months.
For the first year she did not have any problems with anxiety, but the last 6-8 months she had delt with numerous issues. Mostly health related anxiety and it is beginnign to effect us in a negative way. She doesn't want to go back on the meds, started seeing her phychiatrist again who agrees that the meds may not be necessary.
Last week we went on a vation, just the 2 of us, to the carribean and in the days and weeks leading up to our trip she had several health issues. The doctor has run test after test and everything comes back normal. In short she is heathly but neither he nor I can convince her of this. She complains of dizziness, headaches etc. Each time we rule out one simptom she comes up with something new.
This has begun to drive a wedge between us and I am trying to stop it. She resents me because I know her "illness" is not physical (aside from brain chemistry)...and it is pushing us apart.
Honestly I am at my wits end. I am fairly certain she is suffering from hypochondria and she admits that she thinks she is too but she can not stop it. I don't want to lose her and I don't know what to do. Today, after her 3rd anxiety attack since we returned from vacation on Tuesday (late Monday night actually) I told her to call her Dr and go back on the meds because it is clear she is getting worse.
I guess this thread is to ask for help. What meds are good, what work and don't take away your personality. Who can I talk to for support, because I am the one who always has to provide support and there is no one for me to turn to
Hey I'm Good I'm not God -Manny Ramirez 8-14-04
