Hi Sisterhood
My partner is suffering extreme anxiety and I'm not sure how to help. I have contacted beyond blue, men's line, the mental health section of the hospital and his GP (with his permission). He is on edge all the time at the moment and having regular anxiety attacks. He tries to hurt himself and says he is scared what he is going to do to himself when he gets like that. He has difficulty making it through a day at work and often phones me and wants me to stay on the phone for an hour plus to support him through. I have a young child and that's not always possible. I'm working hard to protect my child from his attacks. They are really scary to watch at at times I worry that he may unintentially hurt someone in his way.
He has been to the GP and got medication which had side effects and was dropped to a low dose until he sees a psychiatrist. He knows he needs help and has appointments for both psychologist and psychiatrists but they are not for weeks and honestly I'm really worried he won't last that long. What else can I do to get him support sooner. He doesn't want to go to hospital because he has heard about people being admitted for weeks and he thinks he will loose his job if that happens.
I'm living in fear of triggering an attack and it is beginning to impact on my health. I can't get space from him because as soon as I mention time apart his has another attack.
Please help. I am quite desperate and don't know what else to do. Thanks you.
4 Replies
This period of time truly sucks. Waiting for the actual help can be so frustrating. Unfortunately there isn't a lot of hands on support. You can encourage him to speak to lifeline and beyondblue himself. Lifeline are quite good at talking people down. I'm between you can also start practicing dime skills that break the panic attack.
For me that starts at looking around the room for 5 blue things. I might need to go through a few colours sometimes!
Also setting off a sensory reaction like smelling something nice.
Stretching, arms above my head, touching my toes etc.
also there is a good body check app that you could practice at home together called Calm.
Contact tthe CAT team (crisis assessment team) at the hospital again. They will do a risk assessment and assess if he can be managed at home or in hospital. if he is attempting to harm himself he needs urgent help.
be the squeaky wheel, bloody cat team sometimes do friggen nothing keep ringing them I know because I'm there doing all this as we speak get him to admit himself They cannot refuse if he's in danger of self harm .. Do u have any private health cover?? My hubby saw a psych this week that I pushed and got in sooner want his name? Go back to the gp and push for a emergency referral ..Is your child in school or kinder get a referral for child first then you can access extra help because you will have a case worker..I'm happy to help you if you like I'm in the same boat.
I agree contact the crisis assessment team at the hospital asap. Let them know he is trying to hurt himself and you are worried for his safety and well being.