Help with my sister

AEforSister

I posted once a couple of weeks ago on another board but thought I could get more help here.

Long story short, my sister had a relatively sudden onset of anxiety about a month ago. At first it stemmed from thoughts that she may be gay (she has a long time BF that she lives with) but then she came to realize she wasn't but the anxiety/depression persisted.  Now she gets anxious about unwanted thoughts about how people hurt each other (like things she sees on the news or on crime shows like Law and Order) and wonders what made people like that snap and if something like that could happen to her. She also thinks she may have OCD without the rituals because she obesses about these thoughts and also read that it can be brought on by illness and she had a fever/chills the day it all started.

She started counseling, has been seeing her family doctor and got on meds and even made an appt with a psychiatrist but she has a meltdown almost daily and I was wondering helps you all to make through the day or through the anxiety. I want so badly to help her and I can usually calm her down but I just feel so horrible for her when she is breaking down. Any advice you have is so appreciated. TIA

alamo10

Maybe she should make regular appts for a psychiatrist and maybe up the dosage on her meds. This sounds horrible, I hope she gets better soon!

678MrsH

Having your support and knowing that she can tell you what she's thinking or anxious about without judgment is probably the best thing you can offer her.  She's getting professional help and hopefully will stick with that.  It just takes time to get a handle on obsessive thoughts-- usually, the obsession wears off (as in her thoughts (fear?) that she may be gay) over time.  However, some people need long-term and more intense help to rationalize the bizarre or non-sensical thoughts that are assaulting them.  Continue to be a good listener and encourage her to stick with her psychiatrist's recommendations for her as far as counseling, medication, etc.