Caring for a family member with an anxiety disorder can be extremely demanding and stressful for the family or carer, frequently affecting the health and well being of the carer. It is crucial for carers to have time out and to engage in social and recreational activity that is separate from their caring roles. Carers need to care for themselves as the burden of care can threaten their health and jeopardise their ability to continue in their caring role.
The attitude and assistance of the helping professions play a crucial role in treatment of anxiety disorders. Involving the person suffering from the disorder and their family in discussion of care and treatment plans is vital. Research conclusively demonstrates that involving carers and the person suffering the disorder in this way significantly assists the recovery process.
Sadly the interviewee described that initial interactions with psychiatrists involved mostly medication and very little opportunity for them to provide information to the psychiatrist about their son's condition. - Julien Leith, abc.net.au (click below for full article)
http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2387595.htm