Could this be depression?

[Dingleinthevillage]

My eldest son has been with his girlfriend for 3 years but they have hardly been out in the last 18 months. He is 23 she is 20. She started not being able to go out because of stomach problems, IBS, and I could understand this as I suffer a bit myself. Tonight he has told me she hasn't been out of the house for weeks and had been having panic attacks. She is lovely and they are a smashing couple. I don't know anything about depression. She has been to the doctor but has been fobbed off with what seem to be basically tablets for diahorrea. The only experience I have was after my father died and I took my mum to the doctor because she was having mini panic attacks. She was prescribed some anti depressants that she took for a short while and then felt able to cope without. She swears by them and says they saved her sanity. Sorry to be long! Basically, could this be depression and how could I help?

I know they are young but I have a feeling that if this can be controlled they will have a long and lovely relationship. I'm proud of him for sticking by her when many young men would have run.

This sounds to me more like anxiety / social phobia. I am no expert though, I am sure the other people here can be more helpful. you sound like a lovely Mum!

Thank you. I hope people might read this over the weekend.

Panic attacks are hugely debilitating - I suffered with them for my teens and early twenties and it got to the point where even going on a bus would have me so anxious I'd have two or three on the journey.

She needs to go to the doctor again, maybe ask to see a different one. The No More Panic website is a very useful resource and will hopefully help her to see that she is not alone and that panic attacks do not have to rule her life.

I got put on Seroxat and had counselling and CBT; friends were put on beta blockers when they suffered from them too. I wouldn't recommend Seroxat myself but others might get on better with it.

I wouldn't necessarily say it was depression but depression can be an ongoing side effect from being stuck inside all the time and resenting yourself for it.