HEALTHnatural to want to see your
grandchild. I think it’s fair to say this
situation can’t go on like this. Your
daughter needs to see a mental
health professional.
In the UK there are perinatal
psychiatrists—these are medical
doctors who specialise in mental
health problems in pregnant women
and new mums. Clearly your
daughter’s social anxiety has started
to impact her ability to function day
to day and therefore this needs to be
alerted to the local perinatal team.
Her GP can refer her to them or her
midwife or health visitor can make
sure she’s linked in with them. They
will be able to assess and follow her
up, offer treatment in the form of
medication or talking therapy and
other forms of support or help.
The good news is that while social
anxiety can be very disabling, it is also
amenable to treatment which means
it’s very possible that your daughter
will get over this and return to a more
sociable state. I wish you, your
daughter and of course your new,
lovely grandchild, all the best. QGot a health question for our resident
doctor? Email it confidentially to
[email protected]The Doctor Is In
Q: Dear Dr Max, I recently became a
grandma. My daughter had a
trouble-free pregnancy but then
had to have an unexpected,
emergency C-section. She has had
panic attacks for years and has
recently sought help from her GP
who diagnosed her with social
anxiety. I want to try and help as
much as I can but her social anxiety
extends to me too and she is getting
upset at the thought of my visits.
She’s trying to keep the world at
bay, hiding behind drawn curtains
and blinds. I fear she’s going to lock
herself away and not let anyone help
her. I’m also worried I won’t ever
see my beautiful grandchild. Any
advice on what to do? - Ethel,67A: Dear Ethel, I’m so sorry that you
and your daughter are going through
this. It sounds really awful, for both of
you. Your letter really preyed on my
mind because it’s clear that your
daughter is really suffering at the
moment, but it must be particularly
awful for you because a parent’s
natural urge is to want to go to their
child and hug them, help and comfort
them, but the very nature of your
daughter’s illness means she doesn’t
want this. And of course it’s onlyDr Max Pemberton
48 • DECEMBER 2021 illustration by Javier Muñoz