Im here anytime to talk.

Michelle - posted on 07/28/2010

You have said the right things and yes its frustrating watching the anxiety rob our children of the fun they could be having.I saw it with my Patricia.She couldnt stay at a birthday party because she would feel sick and she couldnt enjoy a quiet movie because she would feel sick.All these things will go away.It will take time in fact a lot of time and i was hoping she would get better quick but it has taken over a year and she still gets it every now and then.My daughter made a fuss about counselling as well to begin with but i was strong and made her go and i did question was making her go going to remind her more of what she has got.She hated going at first but in the end she use to run into the office and she couldnt wait to tell her about all her anxiety thru the week and how she handled it. The counsellor use to get her to write her anxiety down and how she was feeling at the time and that really helped as well.Im really feeling your pain and stick at it and it will get better i promise it will just take time and help. Keep me posted. ♥ Michelle

Shelley - posted on 07/28/2010

Well..we returned from Disney...it was a good trip but very difficult to see the worry and anxiety rob Johnny of much of the fun he could have been having...had the first visit to the counselor yesterday he really is going to put up a fuss about going back..hes now saying that he is just fine and doesnt need to go.....i told him if his arm was broken,i would insist it was set and that this is no different..just another type of issue that he can be helped with

Michelle - posted on 07/09/2010

Wow! You have a great hold on things.I feel you have a top understanding already and it took me 6months before i was were you are.In regard to your question about other family members knowing about Patricias anxiety and how they handled it.I dont have a mum so that was hard.(i had no support) I told my dad who totally didnt understand and one time whilst he was with us and Patricia was in full anxiety mode about something he said "Stop that" "look what your doing to your mother" So i just kept him away.The last thing she needed was a guilt trip.Patricia's dad actually handled her anxiety better then i did.I use to get upset and ask her what are you anxious about? Did you do your mangement skills? where is he just ignored her anxiety and didnt bring it into focus like i did! I became real anxious about her anxiety to the point i was like on edge all day waiting to see if she became anxious!Over the past year and half i have told some people and suprising enough they say to me."My grandaughter has that!"or "that sounds like my son"ect. I just cannot believe how common it is.
Anyway Shelley, you are doing great and counseling changed Patricia and myselfs life.My daughter has anxiety and she knows it and has a terrific understanding of it and she has even wrote two books about for other children.Please keep me up to date with your sons progress. ♥ michelle

Shelley - posted on 07/08/2010

Thank you, Michelle, for the kind and encouraging words...it is so helpful to know that treatments do help...At the moment he is now anxious about the prospect of counseling...we are taking a trip to Disney world in a little over a week, so I was hoping to change his focus to the fun and excitement of the trip...I totally understand about the clever and over thinking...that is exactly how Johnny is...smart enough to know plenty..but not able to totally process what he knows..i love the "detective thinking" we do a little of that now...when there is a topic he is particularly disturbed about (lead paint was a huge one) we look up information on line so he can see more than one side of a situation.....I did have a question,after your daughter was diagnosed and began treatment, how did you approach explaining it to others...not random others, but ppl close enough to notice something is going on...i view this as an illness that needs taken care of (i told him if your arm was broken..i would insist you have it set) but he immediately said he didnt want any one to know...thank you so much for starting this community....im sure this will be very helpful..~ Shelley

Michelle - posted on 07/07/2010

Hi Shelley.The first thing i would like to tell you is your son will be ok and its great you are getting him the help he needs. My daughter attended counselling and it really changed our lives. The counselor taught my daughter ways to deal with her anxiety and how to manage it and also a thing called detective thinking were they have to look at the situation and assess what really is going on. Please reassure him the counseling is great and really helps. It also helped me to deal with her as my anxiety got bad worrying about her.About your question of preparing for what happens next.Try not to prepare to much actually. Try to take each new day as it comes.Just keep reassuring your son that anxiety is very common and is often found in very clever kids who over think things and he will be ok and to try the counseling. Im here anytime to talk and my daughter was diagnosed 1 1/2 years ago is now doing great. I was in shock for weeks even longer. Please have a look at my links as Patricia attended both of these places and it worked wonders. I will be waiting to hear on his progress. ♥ Michelle

Shelley - posted on 07/07/2010

Hi Michelle...My son was just diagnosed with Anxiety disorder today..I am still a bit in shock..and very unsure as to what will happen next..our Dr. recommended counseling..the first thing my 11yr old son said was "your arent going to make me go are you?" Of course I plan on making him go but have no idea how to prepare him or myself for what ever happens next