Suggest Remedy For Severe Anxiety And OCD

Posted on Tue, 29 Dec 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 29 Dec 2015 Answered on

Mon, 18 Jan 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : When I was about in grade 8 I read a book that said 'don't think about atoms without mass or you will have nightmares'. This led me into a feeling of unreality with supreme horror. I didn't know what it was. When I sat for tea at night with my parents and the feeling came on, I had to jump up and run downstairs to get away from it. Then other feelings happened like I felt I was meant to take over for God. This feeling that reality doesn't exist has haunted me since childhood. No one ever really told me if it was schizophrenia or psychosis. I fought it with willpower and lately with Effexor to prevent panic attacks, but it hampers sitting still to meditate. Could it be that I really saw that reality is an illusion? I thought that a relationship would prevent it but couldn't find a steady job to attract the right person. Have others had the same experience?
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Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Please provide me more details

Detailed Answer:
Hello, Welcome to Health Care Magic

I can understand your concern but will need more details to comment. You have mentioned that feeling of unreality came in your mind. Please explain what kind of feeling was there at that time? Explain about your curren feelings also along with any beliefs if you have?

The feelings that you will meant to control God, dis these persist or were only for short time?

Please provide me details in follow up.

Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (14 hours later)

How can I know if my follow-up answer got back to Dr. Bishnoi?

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Follow up will come to Dr. Seikhoo only

Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for asking again

The follow ups will come to me only. You can ask your doubts.

Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (2 hours later)

Somehow I don't think my response got thru. Will try to write it shorter.
Trying to explain a feeling like love to someone who has never experienced it might be quite difficult. The breakdowns, when they occurred were like the exact opposite. A sense of being in a higher or deeper awareness making present reality seem less real than the 'breakdown reality'. That reality is a) seems like pure fear and horror b) seems more real making this world seem like an imposed illusion. Its as if breaking through to a state of consciousness that is the actual, or more real basis of reality. c) it puts one in a state of pure fear, horror and panic.
I had to jump up and run to prevent the thought pattern. d) makes one feel like reality doesn't exist though I can sense my surroundings.
It seemed like there was a thin membrane seperating me from this feeling and if I wrongly dwelt on it and it came to mind, it is if it tore through the membrane like an old enemy coming back again to attack me.
I occasionaly fantasized fighting against thugs or enemy soldiers with intense anger. Asked by a psychiatrist if I lost consciousness doing this, not quite but once came close and could see what the doctor meant.
The fear of taking over for God only arose once. With willpower,and more recently Effexor and Valium or alcohol (not at the same time) this breakdown scenario has been reduced to 'mere' panic attacks and less since taking Effexor.
I am a Christian, but often feel depressed, especially when drinking. I wanted to contribute as a physicist but only reached an MSc. worked part-time for family
in car businesses, apartment management and teaching that ended badly over class control problems, unsteady jobs. My funds are limited and I can hardly support a wife if I ever found the right one. XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (11 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Information points more towards anxiety

Detailed Answer:
Hi again, please excuse me for late reply

I have read the details you've mentioned in follow up and can say that based upon that information there are two probable diagnoses. One is some psychotic disorder more specifically Schizophrenia and other is some anxiety disorder close to Obsessive anxiety or OCD.

Sense that reality doesn't exist and then to prevent these thoughts you have to jump and run. These thoughts are pointing towards intrusive, distressing, dominating thoughts which are seen in Obsessions. Though detailed evaluation is needed to make diagnosis.

I'd like to ask if these thoughts were your own thoughts or in your opinion these have been put in your mind by someone else? If these are your own thoughts then that point more towards obsessive thoughts.

Regarding the fear of taking over the GOD. Did you think that you can control God in reality or was it just a fear? In my opinion that was part of anxiety because that never repeated again.

Do you think these thoughts are real or are unreal and purposeless? If you believe that the reality in not real and this belief is firm then that points more toward psychotic episode.

Fantasising something is not abnormal and can be seen in otherwise healthy individuals. You have responded to Effexor, Valium and these are anti anxiety drugs and not antipsychotics. So if I base my diagnosis on this information only then this points more towards anxiety disorder possibly obsessive compulsive disorder thought more detailed evaluation is needed. You are 69 and have passed MSc also, a patient of psychosis usually doesn't achieve such education. Psychosis also usually manifest in 2nd to 3rd decade of life.

Thanks, Hope this helps. Please don't hesitate to ask again.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (1 hour later)

Taking over God was a fear that somehow came over me till my Dad stuck my head under the water tap that one night. He often took me for walks around the block in those days. I don't think someone is putting the thoughts in my mind (although oddly enough, I dreamt one night that aliens were doing so.) Its more like a memory that came to mind and the more I thought about it and feared it the closer I'd come to the breakdown. And how do you keep avoiding a serious memory?
The deeper philosophical concern that it left me with is the possibility that a reality or universe can't be created from nothing, so that the real underlying reality is nothingness with a feeling of horror and fear. I don't expect an answer to this part from you. I try to deal with it with my faith and Biblical knowledge.
Lately I keep my mind occupied with reading physics, crosswords and I play a Greek instrument called a bouzouki. I do try meditation on occasion and to 'empty' my mind but am concerned how far I can push it incase I get that feeling again. I've overeaten, but then I jogged in the summer. Now I have a hip problem so I have to walk but it doesn't seem to produce the same endorphins, if that's how it works. I put on the weight in the winter and am struggling to reduce from 205 lbs or so to the 160's (@ 5' 11" height).

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (12 hours later)

Brief Answer:
These thoughts are intrusive thoughts

Detailed Answer:
Hello again

After reading the details again I can provisionally say that these symptoms are not due to schizophrenia though evaluation is needed. These intrusive thoughts or memories are probably occurring due to obsessive thoughts.

Distraction, thought stopping technique can prove helpful in such case. Medicines especially SSRIs along with low dose antipsychotics can help to improve the symptoms. This will reduce the repetitive intrusive thoughts and you should feel better.

Exercise, relaxation exercises will surely help to reduce the symptoms.

Thanks

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar