Mom said that they had gone to Chinese for dinner and then to play putt putt golf, where she was giddy with being so "up". Then, as soon as it was time to go home, they heard her in the back seat start sobbing...and then start hyperventilating. She ended up having to take the Xanax (I think that is what it is!) under her tongue..which is the first time she has had to use it. It is supposed to calm her down, and it eventually did...at 1am...but she never went to sleep the entire night. She layed in the bed with her eyes wide open. They got her to tell them this morning that it started because she realized on the way home that she was going to have to sleep in the bed without her sister (who is only six to begin with!). My other niece goes to her father's every other weekend, and she has been sleeping with Ashley to "protect" her at night. They do have their own rooms, but Ashley has been scared at night for months now. They don't know why....they live in a super nice house in a nice neighborhood. She has a girl's dream room. Anyhow, if you all would just say an extra prayer for her. She sees the psychiatrist again Monday afternoon, but it will be a rougher week than normal because my sister is going to be out of town for 3 days for a planned work thing. Thanks, everyone.

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Shaking in my boots (well, if I was wearing them in the middle of summer!), but glad to be back!

I will definately be praying for her. From someone who has had these attacks, I truly feel sorry for her. This will take a while for her to work out and find out how she can talk herself out of having the very severe, long attacks.

Will do! I hope things improve quickly!

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~Happiness is a large family~

This poor girl. She is so young. I really hope they can find the right combo of meds and therapy for her. Life will be even tougher for her. I know it will help her to have someone caring like you who is there when needed. Is she considered bi-polar? Is her age preventing some of the meds from working due to her normal (or abnormal) hormonal changes? Thank God her family is understanding and trying to help, rather than ignoring it, as people have done for years.

I will be praying!! Angela

They ARE thinking this is bi-polar. She does this in swings....and then has the panic attacks in between. The dr. said it is a pretty common thing for bi-polar. It is very scary for her to be not quite 11 and already like this, though. The meds she has been put on usually take about 4 weeks to kick in....and it hasn't been that long quite yet. She saw a dr. last week that specializes in figuring out the chemical make up of her individual system..to see what is missing...to know what meds would work best. It is just a process that takes a while, and of course, we are wanting her "fixed" NOW!! Sadly enough, too, Ashley started developing, even getting her period, right after she turned NINE...and while they have already ruled out a hormonal imbalance, this certainly has not helped her to have this happen at such a young age. My sister is in the first trimester still of her pregnancy, so she is just completely overwhelmed right now...she feels like she is not a good mom to have her child be going through this..and is now bringing another one into the world. I can't imagine being in her shoes. It is hard enough for me, and I am "only" her aunt. Thanks for the prayers from ALL of you.

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Shaking in my boots (well, if I was wearing them in the middle of summer!), but glad to be back!

I am praying for her. That is so young to go through that.

sendind prayers her way.

I'm sorry to hear she had a relapse. Hopefully, more time on the meds and more treatment will help her avoid these.

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I will continue to remember Ashley in my prayers. Also her family.