SEN child, mum with anxiety?

[NourishingButtons]

I have suffered from anxiety for a few years which is directly related to my son's behaviour and general demanding'ness'. I've been on citalopram for about 6 months. Is this common in parents of SEN children?

[MareeyaDolores]

Me too

[Ineedmorepatience]

Yup, very common

[BeeMom]

Exceptionally common. I read a study last year that the majority of mothers (and fathers, too, but to a lesser degree) of children who are medically complex or have other special needs show diagnostic signs of depression, anxiety or PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) when assess with a complete battery of psychological testing.

[Pouncer1]

Me too, not medicated though and really don't want to try and go down that route yet.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Yes definitely...counselling and respite has helped here though

[NourishingButtons]

Yes counselling has helped me too. I avoided medication for a long time, and can be a bit google crazy, but this time I purposely didn't google it and bit the bullet and its really really helped. Need more respite, but hard to ask hubby to take over at weekends too much as he has stressful job in week and is also poorly (stress / our son related too). I know its a long shot but are there any charities that help provide respite stuff?

[crazeelaydee]

Yes, I have been considering counselling for some time now. Strangely my anxiety is not directly influenced by my Ds, it's all the shit coming from the world outside.

[Badvoc]

I have hyper vigilance with obv can manifest as anxiety.
I am working in it, though!

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Crazeelaydee..go for it..it is really good to just go and unload all the stuff happening to you.

[BeeMom]

Fanjo has a good point. Sometimes, when you REALLY need that outlet, you'll get it all pent up and unload in an inappropriate place or to an inappropriate person (or worse, keep it inside and turn into a blithering moron at a school meeting not that I know personally, or anything ).

I am seriously considering it for myself. I NEED to get myself healthier physically and emotionally.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Yes please do it. Have just been to see mine..free through carers centre..feel much better

[NourishingButtons]

ooh I wish mine was free, will look at that. I've been waiting for the initial assessment by Second Step (GP referral) for over 6 months. Just had to stop due to low funds. It has been really helpful.

[coff33pot]

Yes another here although no counselling due to no time and I seem to be counselling everyone else lol so maybe it may sink in one day haha! I am my own worst enemy though.

Usually if things get tough I now flick through my to do list and decide who needs venting at

[2006hildy]

Whoo hoo I am not the only one then.

LEA bring it up at TAC meetings to taunt me though.

I was told on recent Caring with Confidence course you would not be sane without it if you didn't have it and all the statistics show Carers have a higher prevalence to it.

So I'm sorry but you are quite normal.