Anxiety, fear, and panic in caregivers.

yes, I developed it caring for my parents, all of that. my dr put me on escitalipram. I am still suffering from it even though mom is in a home and my dad passed last month.... every time i even think i hear my phone my heart races, and i still find it hard to be away from home.

Oh yes! If you don't have some panic sometimes I think you must not be seeing the full picture!

If these feelings are more than fleeting episodes and/or if they are interfering with you functioning normally, please please get some medical help.

Many women experience some hormonal depression just from menopause alone. Add caregiving on top of that ... well, you deserve some help, lady!

Scaredtaker, that must be tough to deal with two people who do not respect your boundaries. I suppose the alcoholism, unless she is in recovery, makes it exceptionally difficult. I might check out Al-A-non and maybe even counseling. They might offer some tools to help you cope.

I'm joining my parents when my mother returns for her follow up visit to her doctor later this week. She was hospitalized Sunday and just released. Long story, but won't go into it here. If she's not going to accept recommended treatment, I'm going to seek a counselor to help me with my responses to my parents. AND I'm moving out and advising them to make other arrangements for someone to help them. That's my boundary. Either follow doctor's advice or handle it on your own. I won't be a witness to self destructive behavior. I'm telling them that I won't be their POA either. I'm not volunteering to stay on a train of misery.

Try some relief, either an Rx from the MD or some over the counter meds like Remifemin or Estroven or similar. Chamomile tea helps.

Definitely. I was a wreck. I'd get horribly angry and cry uncontrollably. If i had 3 things to do i couldn't figure our where to even start sometimes. I felt trapped. I just wanted to sleep for days if i could. Went to my doctor and thankfully was prescribed escitalopram. What a difference!

I had the occasional panic attack before my folks moved in,, but boy did it get worse. A bit of ativan helped.. and so did time. But I still get stressed about mom and her not eating, and worrying about her

the brand name for escitalipram is Lexapro. it is an antidepressant with antianxiety properties to it.
I too was brought up with zero knowledge of boundaries but i guess all children of abusive parents are.

Escitalopram? Does it have another name? Thanks! I'm very prone to panic attacks, depression and anxiety. I see psychiatrist and therapist. I take meds already. Mom 91, very sweet but CLINGY TO AN EXCESS. That's my life in a nutshell.
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thanks Scaretaker, reading the pdf now... started out a tad not for me, but now it is addressing things I am now feeling that I have actually lost someone I was close to.

I hated and paniced at any call after 9pm!!