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Suggest Treatment For Anxiety And OCD
Posted on
Mon, 22 Sep 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 22 Sep 2014
Answered on
Wed, 8 Oct 2014
Last reviewed on
Question : This is going to sound ridiculous, but I'm hoping writing it down will help. Ever since I've been diagnosed with pre-hypertension (I'm usually near normal in the mornings and a bit elevated at night), I feel worried about my BP and possible heart attack or stroke whenever I get excited, am especially physically active (whether it's formal exercise, just getting emotionally excited, jumping or running around a bit, or doing an activity like sex). I know my BP isn't that high (usually always below 140/90...there have been exceptions, but only very rarely), and I'm trying to eat healthier/exercise more, but I feel like in the back of my mind, whether I'm exercising, watching my favorite exciting TV show, or having sex, like I'm putting myself at extra risk and something terrible could happen any minute. This anxiety has been going on for some time. I am seeing a therapist for generalized anxiety and it helps sometimes, but not others. Do you have any advice? Thanks. I feel embarrassed talking about this, but it's been close to a year, and it's not going away.
Brief Answer:
GAD/OCD?????
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
We are thankful to you for sharing your problem with us. I understand your behaviour is interfering with your normal life. As you said yourself you are receiving psychotherapy from therapist for generalised anxiety, Your appropriate diagnosis may be generalised anxiety or obsessive compulsive disorder, it doesn't matter. Since psychotherapy hasn't worked for you like almost a year, you should be prescribed an SSRI( flouxetine ) for your condition. That helps with stopping the train of your illogical thoughts. You need to take it for 6 weeks before evaluating whether it works or not. Its a very safe drug and it would significantly help you with this problem. Please discuss this with your psychiatrist. Thank you.
Dr. Khan
GAD/OCD?????
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
We are thankful to you for sharing your problem with us. I understand your behaviour is interfering with your normal life. As you said yourself you are receiving psychotherapy from therapist for generalised anxiety, Your appropriate diagnosis may be generalised anxiety or obsessive compulsive disorder, it doesn't matter. Since psychotherapy hasn't worked for you like almost a year, you should be prescribed an SSRI( flouxetine ) for your condition. That helps with stopping the train of your illogical thoughts. You need to take it for 6 weeks before evaluating whether it works or not. Its a very safe drug and it would significantly help you with this problem. Please discuss this with your psychiatrist. Thank you.
Dr. Khan
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks much...I will discuss with my therapist. I know she said she can't prescribe drugs, but hopefully if she thinks it's necessary I can be referred to one who can. I would like to avoid drugs, but at this point, they could be necessary.
Two followup questions: First, even though I'm prehypertensive, all the activities I listed above (emotional excitement, sex, exercise, etc.) are completely healthy for prehypertensive people, correct?
And second, I've been working on cutting back on salt in general and making some progress. However, once in a while, I'd like to be able to indulge in a salty meal. (For example, a soup I love and make only occasionally has quite a bit of salt in it, and it's not really very modifiable; however, it also has venetables, not a lot of meat, and is probably healthy in other ways). Does the occasionally salty meal hurt me if the rest of the time I try to moderate sodium?
Thanks so much for your help.
Two followup questions: First, even though I'm prehypertensive, all the activities I listed above (emotional excitement, sex, exercise, etc.) are completely healthy for prehypertensive people, correct?
And second, I've been working on cutting back on salt in general and making some progress. However, once in a while, I'd like to be able to indulge in a salty meal. (For example, a soup I love and make only occasionally has quite a bit of salt in it, and it's not really very modifiable; however, it also has venetables, not a lot of meat, and is probably healthy in other ways). Does the occasionally salty meal hurt me if the rest of the time I try to moderate sodium?
Thanks so much for your help.
Brief Answer:
BP fine, salty meal ok once in a while, DASH diet
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking
As we discussed you are not even hypertensive. So salty meal now and then won't be a problem . But there is no doubt to limit sodium restriction as that leads to retention and hemodynamic changes and may cause weight gain or extra effort on the heart. But once in a while won't be a harm.
Thinking about it is good but getting overwhelmed with it is not good. You can try DASH diet. Its basically for high blood pressure but a healthy human being can use that diet as precautions to avoid any hypertension in future.
Your case is anxiety and and not hypertension. Take some low dose propranolol for that feeling too if need be. Let the psychiatrists decide what is best for you. COntinue the therapy sessions. Your blood pressure is fine and there is nothing to worry about.
Take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please.
May the odds be ever in your favour.
Regards
Khan
BP fine, salty meal ok once in a while, DASH diet
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking
As we discussed you are not even hypertensive. So salty meal now and then won't be a problem . But there is no doubt to limit sodium restriction as that leads to retention and hemodynamic changes and may cause weight gain or extra effort on the heart. But once in a while won't be a harm.
Thinking about it is good but getting overwhelmed with it is not good. You can try DASH diet. Its basically for high blood pressure but a healthy human being can use that diet as precautions to avoid any hypertension in future.
Your case is anxiety and and not hypertension. Take some low dose propranolol for that feeling too if need be. Let the psychiatrists decide what is best for you. COntinue the therapy sessions. Your blood pressure is fine and there is nothing to worry about.
Take good care of yourself and dont forget to close the discussion please.
May the odds be ever in your favour.
Regards
Khan
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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