Need help for partner and can’t reach anyone

[ShelleyCC]

Hello, my partner is a very non anxious person and always has been, unlike me.

Since Sunday night he’s been acting very worryingly in relation to coronavirus, I’m very concerned. He’s pretty much stopped eating, he’s slept for about 2 hours since then, he’s racing up and down the hallway, crying, keeps looking out the window scared, jumpy, analysing every single symptom such as he coughed once and got into a panic, he even looks different but I can’t explain it.

He’s normally the most positive, chilled out person I know who helps me when I’m anxious so this is a real shock to me. I’ve just spoken to his drs surgery who are getting the GP to call him soon but in the meantime does anyone have any insights or advice?

Sorry the title makes no sense, I began writing this while on hold for 40 mins and finished it just as I got through.

He needs mental health support for anxiety attack. Can you get him to
Call samaritans and talk it thru
Do meditation or mindfulness app
Exercise video?

I’ll try those things thank you so much.

It sounds like an anxiety attack. They're horrible.
Does
Your partner normally like being in control (to am extent!) because the lack of control over what is happening to our daily lives and routines is sending a lot of people over the edge.

I hope the GP calls back soon

@tiredtrumpet he’s usually very into fitness and yes I suppose being able to do what he wants in terms of going out places, he goes running often but is too scared to go out.

It’s just his way of speaking is very weird and not like him at all, he honestly never worries about anything ever! We’ve argued in the past because I get anxious over things that I consider ‘normal’ but he doesn’t even think about them.

I would do everything possible to get him outside for a walk or at least fresh air. He's having anxiety attacks and doesn't realise it.

Ask him to breath in and out from his heart - not his throat or mouth.
Breath in for 6, hold 2, 3, 4 and out slowly for 6 all the time imaging his heart is a green light spreading through his body.
If he can’t do this as in too much of a panic try the 5 things method:
Find 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and one thing you can taste.

Thanks both, that 5 things technique is a good one and something I’ve used before due to my anxiety. His GP called and was very reassuring, told him it definitely sounds like anxiety/panic attacks and told him not to worry about sleeping for now as it will make it harder, just to try to distract himself. I thought he might give him some sleeping pills but apparently he wasn’t keen.

He’s gone for a lie down now to try and calm himself as he was shaking a lot and I’ll check on him in an hour. Really appreciate the replies!

Hope he’s doing ok now. Thanks for the update. It’s scary and horrid when it happens. It really feels like it’s something biologically wrong and not mentally. I’ve thought I was going to die / collapse in the past. Well done for holding it together