What is my mother suffering from? Is it anxiety? And What can she do to help?
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For the last two months, my mother has been getting these strange sensations in the night. She says she starts off with a numb/tingling sensation in her face and neck which goes down all her left side, then gets a rapid heartbeat and sometimes uncontrollable trembling, and then the following morning ends up with an upset stomach, after which it seems to settle down, and she says she feels completely normal afterwards. This happens on average about once a week/10 days. She also for the last 10 months is having a job getting to sleep, or sometimes waking up early and is unable to get back to sleep. This happens a couple of days a week. This is unusual for her, as usually she goes to sleep very quickly and deeply within minutes. She also has very little appetite. This is not unusual for her, but seems more at the moment.
I want to add that she has an extremely stressful job, which always seems to have problems. Recently she has been asked to do an even more stressful part of the job, which she hates doing, which she is either doing or thinking about doing when the occurrences start. Also, two months ago, only a week before the first occurrence, my father had covid, though me and my mother didn't get it.
I am thinking, due to the stress due to the job, it is highly likely that my mother is suffering from anxiety and panic attacks, which she is prone to. Having suffered from anxiety myself I know what this is like. She seems to be worrying about work, which is giving her the anxiety attacks, and because she's having anxiety attacks is making her think she's ill, which is making her more anxious, etc.
I have also wondered about an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) as anxiety and the symptoms she is showing are also symptoms of this.
Unfortunately, if it is anxiety, my mother has a job relaxing anyway, and also doesn't listen to advice.
Does this sound like anxiety? Or anything else? And if it is anxiety, what do you recommend doing to help?
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jan34534 jade01083
Posted
yes it sounds very similar to anxiety and panic. Sounds like her job is causing the anxiety. numbness, tingling, rapid heartbeat, trembling, not being able to sleep are very common with anxiety and stress. I have her all of those sensations plus more over many years. If she doesn’t listen to advice, it may be difficult to help her. It would be good if she could get a physical check up and in that way a simple blood test could check her thyroid.
also, speaking with a therapist would also benefit her. She could even do it virtually at home if she wants
. Nothing is worth losing someone’s health over. It’s important that she takes care of herself.
She could also listen to some great relaxing meditations for anxiety on YouTube. I do that every night when trying to fall asleep. I always fall asleep before it’s over. that would be a great idea for your mother. .
but it really does sound like anxiety
. So the things that she could do besides the counselor and meditations would be taking time out for herself to relax so she is going for a nice walk, taking a relaxing warm bath, getting a massage, getting other exercise daily to reduce the anxiety, being with family in friends for some social times, laughter, doing a hobby that she enjoys, etc. anything that gets her to relax and enjoy herself is important.I hope she starts to feel a little better soon. But just try to encourage her to do some of those things. Take care