My mother has developed extreme anxiety disorder out of nowhere.

[Needarest22]

It started quite suddenly and she can't sleep and is waking up with palpations at night and having nightmares.
She is 77 and not one to go to the doctor as she has a fear of them and hospitals after an experience when she was young.
I actually don't know how to help. It seems to have been triggered by getting stuck on a long journey back from a holiday and then my dad shouting at her in the car. She has also become very isolated since covid giving up all her hobbies voluntarily saying she doesn't have the energy for them any more. I think my dad has encouraged her not to mix during covid and she has only just started going back to the shops.

Everytime I ring she goes on about herself and I do find it a little stressful as I don't know how to help.

Any ideas what could be going on? She just doesn't seem to be getting better. Is it a nervous breakdown?

I think she needs checking over to rule out anything physical first, nightmares and racing heart at night cam sometimes indicate low oxygen or sleep apnoea.

I agree. I will try to encourage that. She's very phobic of doctors but perhaps a family member can go with her.

All the best

What happened with your dad shouting at her? Interesting that that’s the thing that seems to have triggered it off. If she told you about it could she be trying to tell you that things aren’t well between them both or that she’s frightened of him?

What happened with your dad shouting at her? Interesting that that’s the thing that seems to have triggered it off. If she told you about it could she be trying to tell you that things aren’t well between them both or that she’s frightened of him?

Yes but she will never leave him. Its a bit Co dependent.

It sounds like it hasn't come out of the blue though, if she gradually gave up her hobbies? By all means, if you think a physical check is in order, try to get her to go, but it sounds like she's been heading for mental overload and the shouting was the last straw.

does she wake up with raging anxiety?

Has she had a change in any medication?

Is she drinking lots of coffee/caffeine?

It sounds like it hasn't come out of the blue though, if she gradually gave up her hobbies? By all means, if you think a physical check is in order, try to get her to go, but it sounds like she's been heading for mental overload and the shouting was the last straw.

I think you are probably right.