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Children, Parents, or Relatives with BPD => Parent, Sibling, or In-law Suffering from BPD => Topic started by: nevermore on September 19, 2013, 10:59:44 AM



Title: Elderly BPD having anxiety attack. What's that about?
Post by: nevermore on September 19, 2013, 10:59:44 AM
My mother is 86 and has had middle of the night anxiety attacks since I can remember but they were rare.  In the past month she is having them at least once a week. She describes them as feeling as if she is alone on the planet, paces the floor, teeth chattering, edgy and cannot sleep.  I don't know what is bringing them on more frequently. She also says she has zero energy (which at 86 is certainly understandable).  I am maintaining my boundaries and things have been peaceful for almost two years. It makes me wonder if things are building toward another rage fest from her. 


Title: Re: Elderly BPD having anxiety attack. What's that about?
Post by: zone out on September 20, 2013, 03:24:11 PM
Nevermore

This is just a long shot - my elderly mother also wakes up with a feeling of anxiety and ends up pacing the floor.  I am always trying to encourage her to eat some low GI carbohydrate snack for supper.  I wonder if your mum eats regularly, my mother tends not to and would suffer from blood sugar swings during the day (she is not a diabetic).  I have read that a drop in blood sugar during the night can wake a person u.  Apparently when blood sugar drops to a certain level, adrenaline can kick in and wake up the individual with a start (which could trigger a feeling of panic in a sensitive individual).

Best regards

Zone out