Thank you Daniel for being here with us.
Printable View
Thank you Daniel for being here with us.
Hi Daniel,
First time I've actually gotten around to reading your thread.
Say, I have an appointment tomorrow with a new doctor; I've gone basically untreated for year now. I suppose I've been trying to "cope" by using natural supplements, and relying on faith. Faith in a higher power (solely to get me through this) I suppose would be the only way to describe it without getting too specific.
I'm wondering how to approach with this new doctor that I basically have ABSOLUTELY nobody in my real life (no friends or a caring family). This was a huge problem when I went into therapy years ago, because, they were hesitant to release me due to the fact that my only "life" is on the internet, and that was quite frowned upon. Even my online connections have dwindled to almost nothing now, and I refuse to beg strangers for friendship.
I'd bet you been asked this question several times, and in various ways by others, but I couldn't find it by searching quickly.
I'm a bit apprehensive to even tell him anything at all about my total isolation from society, and fear if committed/admitted into a hospital setting, I will have be in serious danger of being held for as long as my insurance will allow (of course), and set right back into the same situation I'm "currently" in as I write this.
Any thoughts/advice would be greatly appreciated, and thanks for you time.
-Update-
I got back from the appointment with the new doc and it pretty much was no help at all, so I'll look around for another doctor I suppose. He was more interested in looking at his watch that anything I had to say, so I didn't say much or even bother. It never came down to being admitted anyway, because I really didn't say all that much about some of my "true" feelings.
As expected I mentioned Zoloft and he said there are better and more effective ones out there now (of course), but I actually do have another appointment for next Friday and hopefully it was just an awkward 1st visit.
Its just a shame to feel like you are back at "square 1" all over again, and makes one get discouraged easily.
Must not give up.
Hello Daniel,
My issue has been going on for a little over a year, and while so I've been under an enormous amount of stress. Major stress with career, 3 kids, two houses that won't sell, etc. I've been plagued with anxiety attacks for at least a week after I fly on a plane. I've been on almost 20 flights in the past year and every time like clock work, I have anxiety attacks for the week after my flights. I don't have problems on the flight itself, "except once." But after for at least a few days, I suffer from panic and intense anxiety with diarrhea. The therapist I've been seeing seems to think it's a delayed reaction to the stress of the flight, coffee sets me off too. I'm wondering if something more biological is going on. We did a blood food allergy test and found that I'm moderately sensitive to gluten and wheat and eggs (level 3 out of 6). She thinks this could be underlying cause for the anxiety on top of the stress I have. I'd love to hear if you have ever heard of a problem like this because I can't find anything online of post flight anxiety, etc. Thanks so much for your help. I don't have to fly for another month and I have to get this figured out for my job and other obvious reasons.
best regards,
Oh well, all appointments are canceled now due to weather conditions, so this is only making me want to just throw in the towel even more now and just say the heck with it all. I just feel completely at a stand still (yet again). Ah well, I'm always just spinning my wheels anyway and never really getting anywhere. I'll return here when I'm able.Quote:
Originally Posted by Surfside
Anyway,
Hope you get some answers @Loyd.
What was it that helped you over your anxiety problems? Was there a certain trigger or revelation? And what is your preferred cure for anxiety such as agoraphobia?Quote:
Originally Posted by RealisticTrain
hi. Is it okay for people with anxiety and panic disorder to tell themselves to don't think of anything whenever it acts up such as during work times, lectures, study periods and public places? Basically want to know if it is alright to don't think of anything? Since people with anxiety like me usually feels the need to think inorder to feel secure.
That's actually a really good question! I'd like to know the answer to that as well. However, I think it is impossible to not think of anything, since it is our thoughts that actually lead us to a panic attack. Personally, I have to talk to myself, explaining to myself what is happening and why and just let the symptoms come. I try not being afraid of it anymore, but it needs a bit of practice I think.Quote:
Originally Posted by frozen
Hi. For anxiety caused by past failures, how to deal with it? Isit don't think about the past?Quote:
Originally Posted by RealisticTrain
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kixxi
Icic. Your method most probably might not work on me...I feel much better if I tell myself to don't think about anything. Because I tend to make myself to think alot. Do you think if it will be helpful to tell myself to don't think of anything whenever anxiety acts up? Thanks for your tips! =)
Hi Daniel. Have you heard of this symptom? A symptom of mental chatter, where you feel like you want to scream, and your inner voice is very loud, also where you are very sensitive to noise? Is this part of anxiety? OCD? PMDD?
Hi Daniel, sorry to de so abrupt but I'm just wondering can anxiety cause such numbness and super-self consciousness to the point where I sometimes feel like I CANT feel tired no matter how much exercise I do, I also don't sweat nearly as much as a used to while exercising. I'm just wondering could being extremely self aware and anxiety-stricken cause this strange 'inability' to feel tired. It's like my brain has forgotten how to react to exercise. It's a strange feeling.
[QUOTE=RealisticTrain;197745]Just wanted to introduce myself here. I'm Daniel, and I'm currently near the end of my psychiatry residency at the university of toronto. As such, I have vast knowledge of all things psychiatric, be it medication, alternative treatments,..anything to do with the mind!
With my anxiety almost completely gone, I still have physical symptoms. Chest pains etc. I've had ECG's and an echocardiogram. Both were ok. So why is this still happening?
Thoughts on alternative remedies? (Yoga, herbs etc.)
Hello Realistic Train,
I have question for you: Can anxiety symptoms appear out of blue? For example, I can experience Arrhythmia (fluttering feeling) inside my chest, and not feeling anxiety or stressed, I am completely calm and focused on the job I am doing at the time?
Thank you for your help,
Kind Regards
Hi Daniel....How long do you take a medication if it's not working?
I've been taking it Trazodone for months and it hasn't worked. The dosage was increased when I told my doctor about it and my next appt to see her is in a couple weeks. I can't just stop taking it on my own.
Hi Daniel,
Are you still active in this community? I see you haven't posted in a while. My GF had some horrible side effects from taking Paroxetine HCL, and I just wanted to ask you a few questions.
Brgds,
Ken
Thanks! For you, what's the best way stop a strong panic attack?
how do you feel about GP's prescribing and diagnosing ??
I do have a question, during my episodes of higher than normal anxiety, where I am very sensitive, is it normal to not being able to cope with your worries like usual? I can't seem to take things day by day anymore and my worries give me more anxiety, and the more anxiety I have over my worries, the more depression I have. It comes in waves and I've heard of these episodes of anxiety and I've been through them before, they seem to stick around for a couple months for me before fading. Yes, I see improvement, but this is still driving me nuts... Do these "ruts" end?
You are making a very good point. I have had some very bad experiences with prescribed drugs over many years. Won't go into all the details right now, but I was prescribed Valium, with Prothiaden (dothiepin), and when I came back and said I was addicted they said I couldn't be. Then they gave me Ativan (lorazepam) instead. This went on for 11 years. It was in the 8os and they are supposed to know better now but I'm not so sure.
I'd like to say I cured myself by unconventional means but unfortunately I didn't. I still take antidepressants, and if I don't, I just lose it.
I think we need to find a way of challenging the medical approach. It isn't wrong but it is overdone. If I'd had Dothiepin for a year and Valium for four weeks, like the first time (private psychiatrist, not the NHS!), I think I wouldn't be in this situation now.
Dr Dan, I know you want to be helpful, but PLEASE.....don't assume that your medical knowledge will deal with everything!
For myself, I really did hope that doctors had moved on since the time I had the bad experience I described (in my reply to PanicCured). Sadly, had another bad experience recently. Was having problems with Seroxat (paroxetine) and was prescribed Mirtazapine, as I had run out of most of the other options. I knew it would make me drowsy at first, but NOBODY WARNED ME that this could last up to six weeks!! When I nearly fell over in a busy road, after four weeks of taking it, I stopped, and went back to Paroxetine. Not working too well but at least not putting me in harm's way.
I'd like to have a proper conversation about my anxiety with you. But it will only be useful to me if you are prepared to accept that "experts by experience" -- people like me who have been through it -- sometimes have our doubts about psychiatric wisdom. And we have good reasons for those doubts!
Does marijuana improve anxiety?
My anxiety was induced by Marijuana... But now after a year and a half, I can say that it had nothing to do with marijuana, It was my head that induced the anxiety, Marijuana just helped with it. Just like it can make you more happy than you usually are, it can make you more anxious than u really are... It can induce, but keep it in mind that it can't do you anything if you are mentally strong to drive you trough the bad high state.Quote:
Originally Posted by MisterAnxiety
The guy who began this thread -- offering to answer questions -- Realistic Train -- appears to have left us around a half a year ago. Too bad; his advice was good. But of course people come and go...
Hi, I am also new, but welcome haha! I have a quick question, so for the past couple of days, I've convinced myself that i have some sort of vision problem. like it not even that anything is blurry or spotty, i just feel like something is off. which doesn't make sense. but i don't really know how to stop it...? its the worse at night before i go to bed, because i feel like in the dark, i get really scared that I'm gonna lose my vision. Thanks for any help!
This is a reply to Mr Anxiety but it has got in the wrong order somehow...
My experience of this was quite some time ago, and I have both good and bad memories. I'd say it probably is not worth the risk, unless you know someone who can get good quality stuff, and someone who can support you when you try it out. (and don't use skunk which blows your head off!)
Problem is that the effect depends a lot on your own underlying mental state. It can calm you, but some people develop intense paranoid thoughts, and that isn't nice. It can also trigger a psychotic illness if you happen to have the wrong genes. And -- contrary to what we were told back in the Sixties -- people can become dependent on it to a degree. Not to the same level as hard drugs or tranquillisers, but you can still develop a need to keep using it.
As you can probably tell, I'm not against it (most of my really bad experiences have been with prescribed medication) but just recommend caution.
Hello everyone, is this working? can everybody read my messages?
Check. I read you loud and clear
Awesome stuff... is there Cellphone App i can download for this forum maybe?
Not anymore. It went away quite a while ago as the moderators abandoned us
Hello Daniel. i have a question, i have this constant tension in my upper body and neck, and it also goes through to my chest... can this all be part of anxiety? is this like a stage it is going through? there is this very discomfort in my chest almost all the time. this is scaring me allot.... and thank you for your assistance
Dr Dan hasn't been here for quite a while. Maybe he will pop in and see your post
if anybody can help me with an answer that would be awesome. can the tension really get this bad?
Hello, I am not so new at this whole anxiety thing, I had been doing really well the last few weeks, I have been feeling really good, and then bam! Right out of no where it's 2am, I've been laying here since 11pm trying to go to sleep and it's just not working...my heart is pounding and my mind just won't stop. Any suggestions on what I can do for this? I don't take any medications except for my acid reflux & would love to keep it that way, but when I get like "this" I just can't seem to shake it. At least a panic during the day I seem to handle pretty well, but here now I don't want to wake any one (my husband and 2 boys) so I suffer in silence trying to just fall asleep!!Quote:
Originally Posted by raggamuffin
Thank you for any advice you may have
I am coping with anxiety with the Natural pen. It has been a God Send.
I got tired of the "happy pills" and knew there had to be a all natural remedy for anxiety.
Try it Attachment 1679
Hey, what do you think of some of the newly added DSM disorders such as Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder? Do you think we're over-pathologising normal emotions?
Hi Daniel I am new to this site as I joined as I feel I have been having anxiety symptoms for over a month now. I get a fast heart rate, heart feels like its pounding out of my chest and find it hard to breathe. I havent been well lately but think that has been down to anxiety. Also Im not sure if you have heard of health anxiety but I think I have that as I am currently checking my heart rate, always looking at my body and if i see any new marks im always worrying. Ihave hardkly ever been to doctors until the last month I have been about 6 times and one trip to hospital.I had a attack today where I woke up with fast heart my heart rate was 118 bpm, headache dizziness and just felt very unwell after around 2 hours It had gone and I am now just left witrh an ache in my chest area.
Hi Daniel
Im a teenage girl and im not sure if this is anxiety related but since school started back Ive been waking up in the middle of the night and getting totally ready for school until i suddenly sort of click out of it and realise what time it is. In the space of 1 week I woke up during the middle of the night 5 times (twice in one night). to help you know more detail of these experiences ive left a short account of what exactly happens:
12:30(ish)
i wake up and without checking my phone or opening the curtains like i do every morning i just immediately get up and start changing into my uniform. i have changed into my shirt and trousers and as i pick up my jumper i suddenly click ot of it and realise its still dark out. i check the time and go back to sleep.
2:00(ish)
i wake up again and this time i check my phone for te time and when i see 2am i dont realise it, i kind of just think "yeah, ok, 2am time to get up and ready for school". this time i get fully into my uniform and i do my hair, as im about to sit down at my vanity i uddenly click out of it again. annoyed, i get back into bed at wake up again later at my correct time, 7am.
please help as this is really affecting me,
Kelly
Daniel love your enthusiasm to help others :) you will surely be the best dr :)