Anxiety Alienation?

[Beautiful_Diaster]

One would think that my mother of all people who be my biggest supporter. But instead when I say things to her about my health she simply ignores me. Asked her on one occassion if my face was swollen & she called me a hypochondriac. My doc asked me today what my mom said about my symptoms or if she talked about experiencing the same. It hurt to the very core of me to tell her that my mom shows no emotion or anything towards my health situation.

I mean damn its not my fault Im sick. I didnt ask for this to be my life. So why are people treating me like a burden? If my own mom doesnt care to support me through this who will? What if there is something critically wrong? Does that mean I have to suffer through that alone too?

So many questions and nobody ever has any answers. is this really what life is meant to be for me?

[remar]

When you have severe anxiety it's all you think about, so your also going to talk about it. I'm glad to hear your boyfriend is being supportive. Hopefully your mom will come around and start being more supportive. It's hard for anyone that does not suffer with anxiety to understand it. And of course you always have all of us here.

[Beautiful_Diaster]

I have tried to explain it to her but she kind of refuses to talk about it. I think for the most part she doesn't know how to comfort me and she doesn't understand my battle. I didnt realize how much I talked about it either until my boyfriend called me on it. He is my biggest supporter. He take me to all doc appointment and always tries to reassure me that everything will be ok. Between him and the people I've encountered here I know I'll be just fine until she comes around. Thanks to you all!

[remar]

I am so sorry to hear your mom does'nt support you. My daughter has severe anxiety and I am her her biggest supporter. I have anxiety myself so I do completely understand what she goes through. Still, even if I did not have it, I would be there for her, always.
I do agree with the other posters. Try not to google so much. It just makes you worry even more.
Keep posting. We're here to support you and help any way we can.

[Cntbreal]

Just came across this part as I was looking at your profile. I agree with nursegirl I didn't understand why my fiance couldn't understand what I was going thru til I spike to my therapist about it and they said. He don't understand because it is not gaining to him. They said bring him to your next apt and we will explain our to him.

Site enough when I took him with me he got it. He also gas been to every apt after that with me very supportive and I'm sip happy he gets it now. I mean I'm sure he don't understand fully but he gets it..

And google has made it worst for me also ur makes you think you have every disease under the sun..

Having family that supports took is key and yes talking to people who its going thru it helps but its nothing like family who can help you even if its just to rub your hand and tell you its going to be ok..

I also didn't realize how much I talk about it still to this day I have to catch myself because I do rant on about it a hell of a lot. But I'm here to chat you could measure me and you are not alone.. Much love hun..

Hope you get better soon..

[Beautiful_Diaster]

Thank you so much for responding. as I spend more and more time on here I find people like you who make me take a second look at things. You were also right about me not telling her how I feel. I didnt ever consider myself anxious or even realize that I had panic attacks until I experienced the worst one a month ago. Ever since I have been fixated on if I am really physically sick or if it is all completely mental. Google has almost cripples me as I spend 75% of my time there looking up every ache or pain I feel. Im so restless and tense. Every moment I waiting for something to go horribly wrong. Its like I've forgotten how to live. I love to read so Im more than happy to take your advice. Anytime you run across a book that might help please let me know. Thanks again :)

[nursegirl6572]

Hello there!  I think most of us anxiety sufferers have felt like you do as far as a lack of support and understanding from our loved ones, but you have to understand that if someone has not experienced it for themselves, they really don't "get it".  Not to mention that a lot of times, we don't realize just how much we talk about it...we can become quite obsessed, and to them, it looks like we're just ruminating without trying to help ourselves.

I was anxious my entire life, and finally diagnosed with panic disorder at 18.  My Dad just never could understand, and still doesn't when I'm having a bad day.  I'd hear things like, "Why can't you just snap out of it?".  I found that having my loved ones read certain books was helpful to me, I was so happy when my sister said to me, "I don't understand it all but I can imagine it is very hard to go through and scary".  It gave me the acceptance and most umportantly, validation I so desperately sought.

I found out that the best support one can get comes from fellow sufferers who "get it", and while it hurts to not get the support and understanding from our loved ones, we can't always hold it against them either.  Have you ever told your Mom how you feel?  My guess is you haven't...we usually don't, we just go away feeling wounded. I would have a sit down with your Mom and ask her to either read and book that explains anxiety disorders, or ask her to accompany you to a therapy session.  Also, try to be mindful just how often you are complaining, verbalizing...you may be shocked at just how focused you are on your disorder.  Just don't be too hard on her...you will always get support here, and from the professionals who are helping you.  Maybe your Mom will come around once she understands a little more about it.

A book I highly recommend for loved ones is, "How to Help Your Loved One Overcome Agoraphobia".  It's great at describing a lot of the aspects of anxiety and panic disorders, and the resulting avoidance behavior that most of us exhibit along the way, and it's not a super long book, very easy reading.  It helped ME to read it too, as I thought, "My GOD!  I could have wrote every word!"