denial thwarts treatment

[finchly]

How can I help a friend with panic disorder so severe that she is all but totally incapacitated. She has alienated her family, destroyed her marriage and for at least 4 years has nearly continuous severe panic attacks which she insists are caused by environmental illness - chemical and electrical. Because of the electrical, she lives without elec. and only runs the furnace while she is outdoors to keep pipes from freezing. She will not go to a doctor although she really believes she is a step from death constantly, because she can't tolerate being in a building with electricity. She has all but destroyed her house having one thing after another removed because it was "causing" the symptoms. now she wants to remove the metal roof. Proofs and reasoning seem useless. She does nothing but sit and get fatter and fatter because the symptoms wear her out totally and also interrupt her sleep. She's absolutely miserable and constantly negative. Suggestions and solutions are met with "I can't because..."

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

This is truely an extreme case of denial and without seeing a doctor there is no way to deal with this destructive track she is on...the only thing you can  possibly do is absolutely insist on medical care in the strongest possible terms.

[Jaquta]

Hi,
I don't know about Dr Gould.  He will respond when he has the time.  I expect he has a lot of commitments.

In my country any person who has significant concern about the mental health of another person has the ability to have that person assessed (or at least to initiate that process).

You could try your local psychiatric services.  They should be listed in the phone book.  At a minimun they should be able to direct you towards appropriate support.

Your family doctor or hospital are other options.  They also should be able to offer advice and support.

J

[zack32]

If she won't leave her house because of sheer horror try having a Doctor come to her. There may be a Doctor out there that has REAL concern for a patient and will come to her. Obviously she needs some help. Because if electricity was the cause of illness we would all be dead. Maybe you could try sharing some points like that with her. Try to rationalize things by comparing it with other people. Ex: You yourself  live in a home with electricity and cleaning products, perhaps even a metal roof. You are fine with no problems so perhaps what she is feeling can be in HER mind only. I understand that you are really feeling this way, but I have not experienced these things, so perhaps you could explain them to some one else that may understand. (bring her to a doctor if she is willing at that point)

[Jaquta]

I'm familiar with I can't.
I think when we do get so run down everything does feel like it is beyond our capability to change.
I think anyone would not only feel but be negative and miserable in your friends position.

That's not a nice feeling when you feel you're a stones throw away from death all the time.  I can relate because people tell me I have a foot over the cliff all the time.

What to do?  Obviously she needs help.
It seems like you're pretty limited if she won't visit a doctor.  I expect taking medication would be hard for her too as these are comprised of chemicals.
You could try talking to her.  Be honest with her about your concerns, etc and maybe try guiding her towards seeking appropriate treatment.

I have limited tolerance towards these situations and if she won't seek treatment herself I would have someone assess her.

I hope your friends situation changes dramatically for the good very shortly.

J

[finchly]

I do appreciate your responses. The panic continues, I've tried reasoning, pointing out that the symptoms are all the classic panic ones but she becomes very upset because I don't understand how sick she is. She has been seen twice in the past 4 years. Once the doctor saw her outdoors and once in-patient for 5 days where she did well and attributed it to having lived in a cabin without elect. for the past 3 months- although she continued having panic symtoms the entire time she was there. She thought those months of rest from the elec. made her able to be in the hospital and even undergo Xrays of her lungs to prove to her there was nothing wrong with them. At this point she is certain any physical testing would kill her. all testing done then showed no physical problems - she dismisses, disbelieves anything that doesn't fit with her own assessment. I can't stand to see her suffering so horribly. Jaquta, you mentioned the idea of having someone access her. How do I go about it?

How do I get some response from Dr. Gould?