Weight loss and anxiety

[uselessmate]

My wife is being treated for anxiety.  She has lost 60 lbs over the last year and a half and has frequent headaches, fainting, and heavy fatigue nearly every day.  I am frustated by how little I seem to be able to do to help.  She is convinced that something is physically wrong with her, and that the doctors are incorrectly diagnosing her?  What should we do?

[velvetvenus]

i think she may need a second opinion from another doctor. sometimes if you think something is wrong, it is. i could also just be the anxiety but it wouldn't hurt to be on the safe side and get another opinion. fainting is nothing to mess around with. i know from experience that you have to be persistant to get answers but also accept them when you get them. i agree that you are doing the best for her by being there for her and your post proves you care. just stick with it and love her and do what you can to help. ask her what she may need from you and go from there, maybe just pitching in on housework or cooking dinner or whatever just ask her. good luck

[Lacey_loves_mcmahon]

dear uselessmate,
i have been diagnosed with anxiety disorder myself so i know what she is going through. first i would like to tell you that you just being there for her and with her is alot more USEFULL than you think! when someone has anxiety disorder the common thing we do is to not believe it..accepting that she has it is the first step in recovering from it..but she has to accept it.  it can be very scarry i know i went from thinking i had cancer to thinking my eye balls were gonna fall out! there is a wide range of things that your mind will think. when your body is in such a state of panic it throws everything off! including appitite (mind you im not a doctor by any means i just know what she is going through) it can have your stomach in such an uproar you dont even want to eat. has she been eating? if not this can be the reason she feels so tired and faints. not only that but anxiety plays hell with you. she has to take it upon herself to try some exercise, drink water and try to stay away from caffeine for now. in alot of ways if she keeps dwelling on it and letting her thoughts of having something else wrong with her rule her she wont be able to pull herself out. and things will only get worse. what she needs to do is change her thought patterns. i know it sounds hard but she has to really take things into her own hands, and take control over her mind and life. has she seen a therapist? because talking is one of the best things she can do, it may also help to find her trigger for her anxiety too when she knows what it is then she can work on it. it will get better but she has to take the steps foward in order to get better. i hope this helps and remember she is not alone and neither are you! and dont feel useless just being there for her and supporting her is alot more than you think. feel free to talk anytime!