Can't talk to family anymore about anxiety issues.

[beckmister82]

 I have suffered from anxiety, depression, and hypochondria for several years now.  I'm 27, married, and a mother to three children...ages 6, 4, and 3.  I have taken Zoloft for many years along with Xanax to help my anxiety.  The last few days I have felt very weak, severely fatigued, and I have had mild chest and back aches, a racing heart, and dizziness.  I saw my Dr this morning and he changed my medication to Lexapro and is doing some blood work to rule out anemia and other health issues.  I have had numerous tests done on my heart over the years and everything always turns out normal.  So here's my issue.  My family is so tired of my anxiety and health concerns that they get angry with me now if I bring it up.  My Dr. spoke with my husband this morning about his role in my health concerns and anxiety and informed him that what I "feel" is a real feeling, not made up or only in my head.  I truly feel chest pains, I really have a racing heart, and really am dizzy....and this is normal with anxiety.  He understands that now but he's the only one.  I called my mother today and told her what I found out at the Dr. and her response was short, to the point, no concern.  "Well, I told you it was your anxiety, now....take your medicine".  She then sent me an email telling me that I have no concern for anyone but myself and that I have caused a lot of emotional stress on my family.  That I have lost jobs and almost my husband due to my mental issues and that I need to get myself together.  How am I supposed to respond to that?  I work full time, I go to school full time, I take care of my kids, and I adore my husband.  I call my mother everyday to check on her and spend time with my family.  When I get scared and start having anxiety attacks, I've always called my family (mom, aunt, husband) for support and just to help me through the attack.  Now I feel like I don't have anyone.  I haven't told my employer about my issues because I'm so embarrassed.  I feel like I'm alone in this.  That I just have to "deal with it" and hide it from now on.  Has anyone ever had to learn to just "deal" with their issues and not mention it to anyone anymore?  If so, how did you do it? 

[Cooler]

I have suffered from anxiety, depression, and hypochondria for several years now.  I'm 27, married, and a mother to three children...ages 6, 4, and 3.  I have taken Zoloft for many years along with Xanax to help my anxiety.  The last few days I have felt very weak, severely fatigued, and I have had mild chest and back aches, a racing heart, and dizziness.  I saw my Dr this morning and he changed my medication to Lexapro and is doing some blood work to rule out anemia and other health issues.  I have had numerous tests done on my heart over the years and everything always turns out normal.  So here's my issue.  My family is so tired of my anxiety and health concerns that they get angry with me now if I bring it up.  My Dr. spoke with my husband this morning about his role in my health concerns and anxiety and informed him that what I "feel" is a real feeling, not made up or only in my head.  I truly feel chest pains, I really have a racing heart, and really am dizzy....and this is normal with anxiety.  He understands that now but he's the only one.  I called my mother today and told her what I found out at the Dr. and her response was short, to the point, no concern.  "Well, I told you it was your anxiety, now....take your medicine".  She then sent me an email telling me that I have no concern for anyone but myself and that I have caused a lot of emotional stress on my family.  That I have lost jobs and almost my husband due to my mental issues and that I need to get myself together.  How am I supposed to respond to that?  I work full time, I go to school full time, I take care of my kids, and I adore my husband.  I call my mother everyday to check on her and spend time with my family.  When I get scared and start having anxiety attacks, I've always called my family (mom, aunt, husband) for support and just to help me through the attack.  Now I feel like I don't have anyone.  I haven't told my employer about my issues because I'm so embarrassed.  I feel like I'm alone in this.  That I just have to "deal with it" and hide it from now on.  Has anyone ever had to learn to just "deal" with their issues and not mention it to anyone anymore?  If so, how did you do it? 

Beck,

I am 61 years old and my panic disorder started at 17. Throughout all this time I was never able to talk about my illness (even after hospital diagnosis) with either my mother or father. They just blocked it out completely. They are both dead now, and they went without ever acknowledging that I was ill. After my father died I found a stack of tranquilisers in his desk, so he had been hiding an anxiety/depressive illness himself.

If I mentioned anxiety, or my visits the doctor or psychiatrist, they just didn't reply at all - just blank faces. I tried an experiment once. While getting the silent treatment from my mother I changed the subject and said I had a toothache. She immediately said "Oh Dear, that must be awful, we'll have to get you to the dentist!"

Unbelievable.

I sympathise with you entirely and recommend that you talk only to people who understand, as the other way is just headbanging IMHO.  I'm so sorry that this is happening for you.

C.