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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on August 26, 2006, at 7:52:43
I even wash my plates etc just before eating them, even through they're clean already.
I constantly wash my hands...
I throw away an extraordinary amount of food (bad I know!) because, well, because it somehow isn't 'good' or something, I don't know what logic my brain follows!
I'm really scared I'm allergic to things, even through I have zero allergies and have never ever been allergic to anything - I got stung by a wasp and I had a huge panic attack - luckily I'd already had three bottles of beer, so it wasn't as bad as it could have been! Obviously, I'm not allergic to wasps, but I managed to convince myself that I was going to die...and when you go into panic mode, it mimics the symptoms of analphatic shock...
I also have hypochrondria... (see above wasp incident!)
That said, these are my only anxieties - I don't get social anxiety or being afraid of being alone or whatever. Just the allergies/hypochrondia thing. I'd rather have social anxiety. At least you can gradually expose yourself to tricky situations and use CBT and stuff. What am I supposed to do, gradually introduce myself to toxins, poisons?????
Why do I have to be like this?
And will a benzo abate this constant anxiety?? My pdoc thinks once I start studying etc (as I will do when I move to Finland) my brain will be occupied by other things and won't be interested in the whole allergy/hypochrondria thing.....I hope so!
Kind regards
Meri
Posted by Phillipa on August 26, 2006, at 9:55:57
In reply to I have a fear of poisoning myself..., posted by Meri-Tuuli on August 26, 2006, at 7:52:43
Merri that sounds like a form of OCD. In England I think they would use luvox or anafranil. Love Phillipa
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on August 26, 2006, at 10:06:52
In reply to Re: I have a fear of poisoning myself... » Meri-Tuuli, posted by Phillipa on August 26, 2006, at 9:55:57
Hello!
Yeah, I thought it was more OCD than anything else, but I looked it up and it didn't sound like me really. Then again, I'm not a pdoc!!!
I don't know. Anyone care to comment?
Kind regards
Meri
Posted by Declan on August 26, 2006, at 15:02:11
In reply to I have a fear of poisoning myself..., posted by Meri-Tuuli on August 26, 2006, at 7:52:43
I dunno what your wasps are like, but wasps here are very fast and painful.
Has rhodiola made your ocd (I'm not sure that we should create this space, but anyway) worse?
Posted by fca on August 26, 2006, at 16:15:42
In reply to I have a fear of poisoning myself..., posted by Meri-Tuuli on August 26, 2006, at 7:52:43
I would be very surprised if you did not meet the clinical criteria for OCD--It is not exactly a death sentence--I have had anx/ocd all my life and have had a very successful career, life, etc. The critical thing is the extent that the fears (obsessive worries) and/or compulsions (rituals) interfer with your day to day life. If it is only an minor inconvenience and not substantial--well we all have our quirks. If you are troubled by it or it interfers with your daily living SSRIs and CBT is the way to go with some posible additional help from benzos during intitation of the SSRIs and/or until the CBT works. No. they will not expose you to toxins and disease but you might well use an imaginal script which contains your fears, dreads, etc. CBT and ERP can also be used with obsessions in the absence of specific rituals. OCD is generally treated with SSRI as it is considered a serotonin problem--Any SSRI may be used but Paxil, Zoloft, Luvox and more recently Lexapro seem to be favored. Personally, IANAD, I would go with one of the older SSRIs even though they may be a bit dirtier. Good Luck--BTW--I promise you the alcohol will not help. It may not hurt but it will only increase the anxiety when you are not drinking--but it is inexpensive, feels good, works in the short term and increases socialbility. Not a bad drug all in all if you are not anxious or depressed.
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on August 27, 2006, at 2:35:11
In reply to Re: I have a fear of poisoning myself..., posted by Declan on August 26, 2006, at 15:02:11
Hiya Declan
Well the wasps here aren't particulary nasty to be honest. I was just worried because I'm a hypochrondriac!!!
Hmm, yeah I'm actually taking a break from rhodiola - I'm going back on it soon because it *definately* has mood elevating properties (I thought I'd have the break because well, because. Abit like you do with siberian ginseng....) I thought that the rhodiola was maybe excaerbating it, but now I'm off it, I'm just as anxious about my little phobias as ever, maybe even more so.
On another note, I think I've always had these anxieties, its just that for the last hmm, I dunno, maybe 4 years? I've been on various SSRIs/other medication/SJW, which will obviously mask these things. But no, I've been having panic attacks about my health since I was 17! I'm 26 now.
Do people think I match the criteria for OCD??
Kind regards
Meri
Posted by sunnydays on August 27, 2006, at 12:02:38
In reply to I have a fear of poisoning myself..., posted by Meri-Tuuli on August 26, 2006, at 7:52:43
Well, one thing that's sort of like CBT... maybe not gradually expose yourself to toxins (I would NOT recommend that), but maybe try to force yourself, for example, not to wash the clean plate before you eat off it, then it sort of reinforces itself when nothing bad happens from not washing the plate. Just an idea, and it might be better to have a T to work with when you try to do that.
sunnydays
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on August 27, 2006, at 13:21:38
In reply to Re: I have a fear of poisoning myself... » Meri-Tuuli, posted by sunnydays on August 27, 2006, at 12:02:38
Hiya! Thanks for that... :o)
I've sort of noticed that myself actually, if I kind of pander to my anxieties/phobias, it makes it worse. Trouble being, is trying to force myself not to give in to them!!!!! And you know, I'd prefer to be safe than sorry, but thats were the trouble begins...
Kind regards
Meri
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on August 27, 2006, at 13:26:11
In reply to Re: I have a fear of poisoning myself..., posted by fca on August 26, 2006, at 16:15:42
Hiya!
Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I'm rather freaked out by my phobias. Its kind of borderline as to whether they interfere with my life or not...sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. Its started to really bother me lately. Hmmm. I'm kind of alright around rational people, because I see them clearly not washing their already clean crockery and I sort of have to follow suit, but on my own its definately worse.
For example, today I was cleaning my sink wearing a mask and goggles..using normal cleaning fluid I add ('Cif'...). Not normal behaviour really?!
OCD....man.....really? Oh well.....
Kind regards
Meri
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