social anxiety

[charliedog1]

My 18 year old has social anxiety and panic attacks. He had social anxiety for the past few years but had managed it without having medication! Over the last 2 months he started having panic attacks and feeling sick when he goes out . His doctor percribed him beta blockers which stopped the panic attacks but he was still unable to go anywere including college! He has now given up going to college as he cant make it!Which has left him having bad thoughts and depression. He spoke to his doctor again and she percribed him anti depressents. She offerd him talk thepry but he refused it due to his social anxiety! She also put him in touch with the mental health team. My partner and I(more my partner),are concerned about him taking antipressants as you can get worse on them before you get better!and there addictive! Hes on the waiting list for cbt . if he will go when appointment comes round. He got a call from the mental health team today who want to see him next week. He got very upset as his anxiety stops him going anywere. Has anyone been through this or is going through this? does anyone have any advice?

While your DS waits for the CBT, there are a few things you could do which don't involve seeing someone face to face.

Many therapists are prepared to work over email, phone, Skype etc. Would this be an option? The Samaritans will answer texts and emails too. Is there a counsellor at college he could speak with over the phone?

Also there are various books, apps and podcasts on the topic of social anxiety, ranging from CBT workbooks to mindfulness apps.

Antidepressants are not addictive. They are not the same as addictive tranquillisers, they're a different type of medication. When someone starts ADs, they will be closely monitored and should go straight back to the GP if they feel worse. They take a few weeks to build up to full effect, so the sooner you start, the sooner you notice the difference.

Mind has a lot of helpful information on their website.

Keep us posted and I hope your DS will be on the road to recovery soon.

Hi
Is it social anxiety or GAD anxiety?
Reason I’m asking is
With me, if I’d feel really uncomfortable that made me start having anxiety bodily symptoms
Id try to let them pass but it’s so hard as they just come on, but they’d build up.
That thought if what happened would put me off going back to that place/person etc as I’d be thinking I’d feel the same again

It’s a vicious circle, mainly it’s the thought that leads to the panic.

I agree books, nomorepanic website
Where he will find like minded people who are struggling
Soundcloud app on his phone
They have lots of. Meditation, podcast on anxiety, calming music

What if you were able to accompanying him, would he feel a bit more relaxed with you there/outside room. It will only be one to one thing

Re the AD’s, I agree there not addictive just that you need to come of very slowly
Go as probably put him on something like citalopram
Which is a first line AD. And a low dose
He might be one that doesn’t get bad start up effects everybody is different on meds.
Heightened anxiety is mainly one of the symptoms it normally takes about 2-4 weeks to kick in.

its not what he will want to hear but if he doesn’t push himself(I have real experience of this from age of 23 to 60) he really is making it harder on his self. Like you say , he’s already not going to college. His world will become smaller, won’t want to see friends, go out , hide when people come round your house etc

It sounds cruel, but if he doesn’t get a grip now it will the mind will take over his life and make it smaller.

Support him as much as you can, and try to encourage him for his own sake.

Hope he can conquer this.

Hi octopepper and Haribogirl,
Thankyou for your advice, he has been percribed 10mg of ciopram for 7 days and then he has to go back and see his doctor.
Haribogirl when he goes out his heart starts raising,feels sick and causing stomach pains, then he has a panic attack. The doctor first percribed him beta blockers which helped with his heart and panic attack , but he still was feeling sick,stomach pains so couldnt go out. Which has now left him feeling depressed. He spoke to doctor the other day and told her how he was feeling , so she percribed him ciopram for 7 days, hes also under the mental health nurse and is waiting for cbt. He really wants to get better ,hopefully will start tablets tommrow.

Hi
Classic anxiety symptoms, don’t get me wrong they are horrendous( I’ve been there numerous times)
I’ve had it where I can’t eat, thought I just don’t want it yet really hungry and lost a stone in weight.

It is literally the thoughts that do this to us!!! But they come and we just can’t seem to strug them off just like that hence the horrible symptoms.

I can’t understand why gp as only given him 7 days citalopram, as it takes 2-4 weeks to get into your system
What dose propranolol is he on?
What about upping it?

There are cbt courses on line for him to look at whilst he’s waiting for nhs appt

Try to encourage him to go out, even with just you and him down the road.
I know how easy it is to become agoraphobic so easily .

I can’t understand why gp as only given him 7 days citalopram, as it takes 2-4 weeks to get into your system

I took that to mean that the GP wants to keep him under close observation. I think they'd check for deterioration either due to symptoms worsening before the medication kicks in, or an intolerable side effect. They then decide whether to prescribe more of the same, try a different medication or stop.

Everyone seems says anti depressants are not addictive but I dont knwo if thats true,Im only on a low dose anti depressant and sometimes miss it a couple of days and feel no different,, But then Iv heard alot of people have a hard time coming off them because of getting side effects when they stop,, so in a way I guess they are addictive if you feel like you cant just stop it,, having to taper down is what they do with other addictive substances aswell ,, its not really any different only that anti depressants are not as strongly mentally addictive I think but then you can get mentally hooked if you think you cant cope without them,, but they could help its worth trying them maybe your son sounds very extreme but id be cautious about it watch him more closely to start with, people have said they make them feel more suicidal at the start I never have but people arent lying , it does make some people feel suicidal and it did make me feel much more depressed at the start that i couldnt understand it, but thats what might happen until it settles down in the persons system