Suggest Treatment For Depression And Severe Anxiety

Posted on Wed, 12 Oct 2016

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

Wed, 12 Oct 2016 Answered on

Wed, 2 Nov 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Hello! I am a 38 years old man and I have unwanted homosexual fantasies about my close male friends from which I experience unwanted erections. I don't see them in sexual way in reality, I don't feel attraction towards them, I don't have feelings about them and I don't want to act on these fantasies in reality. Now I am in deep depression and I experience severe guilt and anxiety. I think that this is very immoral and it is ruining my friendship with them. The pain is irresistible. I think about this 24/7 and I feel that I am very guilty and bad person. And I have a fear that the erections mean that I like the thoughts and they are pleasant to me, which I know deep in my soul that is not true. If these fantasies mean that I am XXXXXXX I will accept that fact, but I cannot accept to have fantasies about my close friends. I think highly of them and I don't want to lose them. I am very ashamed to speak with my friends, I feel like a hypocrite. I don't know what to do anymore. Please, help me.

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
With medicines you will become free of these thoughts

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM

I can understand your concern. You have unwanted, intrusive, repugnant thoughts in your mind which are uncontrolled. These uncontrolled thoughts are resulting in significant distress and unwanted elections sometimes. You have fear that you might become homosexual.

In my opinion these thoughts don't make you homosexual and since these are uncontrolled and repugnant so most likely these are obsessive thoughts and should be evaluated properly. Please consult a psychiatrist for evaluation and treatment. With proper medicines you will become free of these thoughts.

Medicines like SSRIs are the drugs of choice for obsessive anxiety. Fluoxetine or Fluvoxamine are used commonly. These drugs in high doses help to reduce the symptoms. In most individuals response is seen in about 4-6 weeks. So please discuss with a psychiatrist for help.

Apart from medicines behaviour therapy is other modality of treatment. Thought stopping techniques, relaxation exercises are used commonly. Talk to a psychologist for details. Combination of behaviour therapy and medicines help in quick recovery. So please don't hesitate to consult a doctor just talk to a psychiatrist and you will feel better. No need to remain ashamed.

Thanks and take care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad