Posted by Rick on September 21, 2002, at 20:18:27
In reply to Re: Klonopin - Social Anxiety pure form, posted by chad_3 on September 21, 2002, at 5:20:23
> I read that Klonopin may have indirect help on both SP and Parkinson's because even though it helps prevent excessive involuntary movements - it also "disinihibits" tightening of facial area - relaxing and making more easy for those with SP and Parkinson's and other disorders which often show features of "lack of facial expression" appearing as "emotional blunting" etc etc...
Interesting you say that, because one of my first somatic social phobia symptoms started in high school. When I'd be walking toward someone, esp. down a long hallway, my face would tighten and my head would shake. Ironically, the head shaking disappered a few years later, but was replaced by vocal tremor when anxious. That's still my biggest outward symptom, although Klonopin has eliminated most of it (probably mostly through the treatment of the anxiety, but maybe also through direct anti-tremor efects).
Even after the "head shakes" stopped, my face would still tense up around others, particularly in certain situations. I learned that people sometimes thought I was giving them a "mean" expresion on purpose, that I didn't like them. Sometimes they'd make fun off me or mock my intense expression (not-so-nicely in high school; usually good-naturedly since...BTW, I hated high school, and this was one reason).
Even today, my face will sometimes tense up a little, but I no longer freak out about having to walk towards someone or look them straight in the face.
> Oh - on my website since I had this free time - I added some abstracts under "dopamine" on pregnenolone - a steroid they find is low in those with gneral SP and general anxiety both.Funny you should mention that, too. About six years ago, before I had ever heard of social phobia, I read about Pregnenolone's supposed "fountain of youth" properties. I started taking it daily, without doing any safety or effectiveness research as I would today. I stopped after about a year when I saw no benefits. And in retrospect I realize my "Pregnenolone days" were about the time my social phobia became its worse (e.g., doing presentations, which used to make me merely a little nervous, started inducing near-panic). So, I'm definitely not going to be one of the first to jump on the Pregnenolone-for-SP bandwagon!
Before that, I took DHEA for at least a year, again with no research and no beneficial effects I could detect. Isn't Pregnenolone a precursor to DHEA and other hormones? I sometimes wonder if the DHEA and or Pregnenolone contributed to my impaired glucose tolerance (DHEA can decrease insulin sensitivity). The carcinogenity potential of DHEA also concerns me, especially given my family history. Hormone supplementation in general is something I would tread lightly with for these reasons and others.
Rick
poster:Rick
thread:120479
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020914/msgs/120657.html