Teen Anxiety, Panic Attacks Need Advice -- Long

[The Mystery Machine]

Good luck to you and your daughter. Sounds like she's definitely on the right path. As for the passing out . Not sure there is a "better" in this situation.

Thanks. My dd makes it a priority to fix her anxiety. It is work and some days are better than others.

A good counselor will be able to help your dd.

 

[disneycruising]

I was wondering if there was any update? Did your DD have her appointment yet? How did it go?

 

[136368]

I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks, along with depression.
I am on zoloft for depression and it helps my anxiety too.

I still freak out though. It is more than being shy..I just can't talk to people. I am dual enrolling at the local college starting Monday and I am freaking out and getting so nervous ..I am dreading having to walk in and deal with it.

I mostly have social anxiety and I know that is tough.

Anxiety is just something you have to learn to cope with and get some understanding from family.

Zoloft aka. Sertraline is great for anxiety as it is mildly sedative.

As far as meds go, you may be advised to go for a benzo such as Xanax. The may work, they may not. They may have side effects, they may not. Just don't be afraid of medication - it can help a lot. For my panic, I went through a merry-go-round of meds and ended up on a rare and extreme one - Trifluoperazine, an old school antipsychotic. it worked for me wonderfully as in small doses it's excellent for anxiety. Do seek the help of a therapist though - I recommend CBT. Trying one without the other would be restrictive.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

DD is doing beautifully in high school. No anxiety or panic. It's amazing what a difference a few years makes. I did speak with a therapist who was going to see her the night before her first day of school. She was still fine that day, so I called and told him she was doing well and didn't feel a need to come in. He said he was happy that she was doing well and didn't need to see him. He also said he didn't see the need to push her to come in if she didn't feel the need to. He did say that he will always be available should that change, and I've made it abundantly clear to her that she can see him whenever she wants, and for whatever reason -- peer pressure, stress, anxiety, to complain about her parents...

I still shake my head in amazement at how easily she's adapted and how comfortable and confident she is now. Of course I feel like the boy who cried wolf, but I really felt the need to be proactive and to be prepared in the worse occurred. Isn't it just like kids to make you look foolish at every turn? I'd much rather feel foolish than have her beside herself with stress.

She's also begun signing up for extra-curricular activities and really participating in everything the school has to offer. I'm so proud.

Of course we're dealing with other teen-related issues, but nothing outside the scope of normal -- pushing boundaries, sassing me, wanting more independence than I'm willing to give her, but I look at all of that as a blessing and am so grateful she's feeling well enough to push my buttons.

Thank you all once again for your concern, compassion and the benefit of your personal knowledge and experience.

Forgot to mention: the therapist recommended an out of print book for DD, but I was able to find a newer version. Can't remember the name, but if anyone is interested I'll find out what I get home tonight. I also bought her a teen anxiety workbook. I don't think she's spent too much time with either of them, but I do think she's thumbed through and found a few CBT points that helped. Also, it seems her best friend was more panicked than she was, and that really seemed to put her in a position of helping someone else. I think she knew someone had to the more confident person, and since it wasn't her best friend (who usually is more confident) she stepped into the role.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Glad to hear you update! So far my dd has not gone back to therapy this yr. either and is coping well with 8th grade and all the stuff that goes along with it.

She always knows that if she starts to run into trouble that help is available to her.

Now she is still on the Lexapro. That is really her call on if she wants to stop it. The psychiatrist will work with her on going off it if she wants to do so.

Now the medical anxiety is something she is trying to get better at, so that may be what we go back to therapy for. We will see....braces are in a few weeks.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Glad to hear you update! So far my dd has not gone back to therapy this yr. either and is coping well with 8th grade and all the stuff that goes along with it.

She always knows that if she starts to run into trouble that help is available to her.

Now she is still on the Lexapro. That is really her call on if she wants to stop it. The psychiatrist will work with her on going off it if she wants to do so.

Now the medical anxiety is something she is trying to get better at, so that may be what we go back to therapy for. We will see....braces are in a few weeks.

I'm so glad to hear she's doing. Hopefully she will continue to have confidence and take each little battle as it comes. Please let me know how she does with her braces. It can be very uncomfortable for a few days, so I recommend whatever pain reliever she tolerate a few hours before she goes, and then immediately after coming out. It really helped my DD.

 

[C.Ann]

So glad that things are going well.. Hopefully it will be "smooth sailing" now..

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I'm so glad to hear she's doing. Hopefully she will continue to have confidence and take each little battle as it comes. Please let me know how she does with her braces. It can be very uncomfortable for a few days, so I recommend whatever pain reliever she tolerate a few hours before she goes, and then immediately after coming out. It really helped my DD.

I will. I am just hoping for the best.

 

[disneygals]

OP...glad that your daughter is doing better!

Just wanted to bring this to your attention, may not apply, but it is an anxiety based illness...cyclic vomiting syndrome www.cvsaonline.org