A question about anxiety and adoption

[Ahhhtetley]

As some of you might have seen on my previous thread i'm at the start of the adoption journey.

They say for warned is for armed but I've just read something and it's set my mind wandering.

I suffer from panic attacks and sometimes a very small amount of anxiety (usually as a result of panic attacks).

The panic attacks only manifest themselves at work, i suffer from stage fright (for want of a better explination). The doctor perscribes me Propanalol which I take as and when I need it. Usually before a big meeting or presentation. It helps calm my nerves and stop my heart racing. A large part of my job does mean that I do get anxious about this and its also something I can't 'not' do so I do need them (the tablets) to carry out my duties.

I can go for weeks without taking any and when i'm at home or on holiday I don't take any at all.

That said, they are still on my medical records, i have no problem telling the SW or anyone about them, but i was wondering if this may hamper the adoption in any way.

and my spelling is also shocking 'forewarned is forearmed'

If it's limited to things like presentations, I don't think they would have a problem with it. The best thing is to talk to your assessing social worker and be very honest about it and see what they say.

Do you think you'd cope ok with going before Panel? Though can be quite a daunting experience so might take a bit of extra preparation.

Best of luck! :)

Ahhhtetley hi, I don't know anything about anxiety or panic attacks in relation to adoption but I did suffer from panic attacks/anxiety about 15 years ago. My very kind GP referred me to the local hospital where I had a course of CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) with a phychologist/counseller. This lasted a short while and involved no medications. It was all about thinking about talking and acting differently, it is a kind of two pronged attack on the attacks! Thinking differently and then acting differently. IT WORKED. I have NOT had an anxiety attack since.

I am pretty sure that your anxiety will not be a problem for your in terms of adoption but it might be worth trying some therapy now because it would be lovely for you to be free of this stage fright anxiety.

Please feel free to P.M. if you want to.

I have just mentioned therapy on another thread too! I am NOT a therapist or an expert but I have had a lot of therapy over the years and it has worked amazingly well at helping me to deal with anxiety and other stuff.

All the best.

When I first applied to adopt, I was on a low dose of antidepressants for anxiety. None of the agencies I approached would assess me, and I ended up having to prove I'd been off the anti-depressants for a year before anyone would.

Having said that, during my homestudy my SW said that now I would not have been required to do this, so maybe the recent government attention to the adoption process has had an effect?

I was asked about my anxiety at panel, and I explained it had been triggered by being bullied at work years ago, and a later period of panic attacks were triggered by my whistleblowing about a colleague at work. The panel were fine with the explanation and that it was work-related. However, I don't know if they would have been so okay with it if I couldn't have shown that I'd had therapy and worked on myself, as well as using medication. They were definitely wanting to hear this. So I'd echo the previous poster and suggest you consider some therapy whether CBT or something else, in order to show you haven't relied on medication and have been willing to try everything.

In the intersts of full disclosure, I AM a therapist - not in CBT though!

Thank you, I appreciate the responses.

I've done the cbt course and talked it through with a councillor but because its localised to work and presentations its more the panic attack than the anxiety.

Ill talk it over with the SW when they come around.

Good point around the panel though, it's something that will need to be worked on beforehand.

With regards to panel during both the approval and especially the matching panel I was a complete mess!

I'm fine at presentations at work and in job interviews but the second I walked in the room I was shaking and even had tears!

But my SW said that they have seen all sorts - people running out in tears, needing to come back later, unable to speak. So I like to think they do understand that on that day you won't be your normal self. And your SW will know you so well by then they will be supporting you thorugh it.

Good luck!