Hi Dr. K, I was just wondering if you could talk about a fear or anxiety that I've been dealing with since May? It's a hypochondriac, almost dementophobia kind of ordeal. tl;dr in bold at the bottom, thank-you. <3
Back in May, I had what I can only describe as some kind of mental breakdown or meltdown. My brain and head felt very strange; weird sensations that are difficult to describe. Even now I still get this tingling in parts of my head, most commonly occurring during the onset of anxiety or in the middle of anxiety. I went to the doctor and I went to the ER and they never found anything. Eventually doctors were saying that it was anxiety and panic attacks. Soon I am going to have an EEG and MRI done.
The way I felt during that time and the thoughts I was having were very scary. This went on for a couple of weeks. I thought I would never be the same, honestly. It took me easily a month and a half before I really felt right again and my mind wasn't dominated by this obsession with its own well being. I would say things like "I feel 90% back to normal" or "I'm close, but not quite back to the way I was before". It just wiped me out like I've never been wiped out before. I didn't just die; I died and realized I somehow hadn't saved or even autosaved in fucking 3 hours.
I am a junior in college, and for a couple of years I would drink myself to sleep / to "help" me sleep. I have a history of depression, but only very recently have I discovered anxiety was there all along, too. I've been sober ever since this meltdown in May.
Today, I am not only scared of any mind-state altering drug like alcohol or weed or even nicotine; I am also now afraid of prescribed medications (especially after Straterra gave me guaranteed nightmares), I have become afraid of Benedryl because I was having a panic attack while my body was basically being put to sleep from Benedryl in the ER (it was almost exactly like sleep paralysis), I now have a fear of anesthetics and I'm afraid to get my wisdom teeth removed next summer. In the past I've had a traumatically bad trip induced by eating a whole weed brownie, and also a time on cocaine when I thought a friend overdosed in front of me. Yes, I've done a lot of stupid shit, and sometimes I worry I've fucked my brain up permanently somehow.
I'm in therapy again, but I'm starting to feel stuck, which I think is part of why I am making this post. Another reason might be reassurance seeking behavior, I admit. I *have* been g
... keep reading on reddit ➡This is more of a question post, looking for help.
I had a chemical brain injury about 2 years ago. I've basically kept drinking since then; I'm 22 and was at university so the thought of not drinking when thats basically the main way to socialise was kind of out of the question. I have never drunk day to day; rather I get compulsively blackout drunk on the weekend. I have really bad social anxiety and anxiety about my brain performance and the alcohol has been my main way to escape that and feel normal/good.
I've just finished college and my drinking has gotten worse. Last two weekends got totally blackout drunk and unable to vomit so spent hours dizzyingly drunk, wreaking havoc on my brain. I felt noticeably more stupid after the first weekend but then sporadically went out drinking with my cousins who were visiting town. Now feel even worse, ideas of dementia and neurosis etc. seem not so far away.
Basically my problem is this; I need to control my drinking. But I am 22 and being completely sober seems like such a throwaway of what should be the most fun part of my life. Does anyone have any guidance on this?
I’m starting to realize the extent of my memory loss over the past few decades of drinking. My father has dementia, but think it is fairly early for me to start experiencing symptoms at the age of 41. Even very recent events (within the last few days/weeks) seem more like a dream or I remember them like I was drunk in the moment. Hard to explain, but it is a surreal feeling. Any direct experience with this or signs/symptoms I should be aware of? I think it’s time to visit my Doctor...
I’m a 5’7 165 lb 33 year old male. For about 6 years now I’ve suffered from a variety of issues stemming from an evening in which I had too much to drink, smoked a cigarette, had a really bad reaction and suffered through a night of horrible anxiety. I had been drinking quite a bit, at least three nights a week at that point in my life and thought it was just a bad hangover but over the course of the next few days I suffered from what felt like a mind fog from which I haven’t recovered. I tried having sex and felt the part of my mind and body that feels sexual sensation and orgasm shut off and die. Gradually over the next month a variety of symptoms began to manifest:
- I had a loss of sensation and feeling in my skin and in my muscles.
- I suffered from slight but noticeable movement tremors in all my muscle groups but most specifically in my arms
- The feeling that I lost the vast majority of sexual sensation and an inability to feel orgasms remained
- I suffered lapses in concentration, an inability to focus or multitask and a very short attention span
- I suffered from increasing depression, lack of motivation and increasing stress as my new physical and mental health issues made it difficult to do my job and eventually I quit and found myself borderline suicidal.
Other minor symptoms have become noticeable in recent years that might be considered related to the others:
- Sleep problems
- Occasional inability to speak clearly/mixing up words and ideas
- Balance problems, especially with my eyes closed (I've been recovering from a ruptured achilles tendon and closed eyes balance exercises are very very difficult)
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In my visits to the doctor I was given antidepressants which helped with some of the mental issues of depression, but none of the physical issues and at my last visit to the neurologist approximately 3 years ago I was told that the issue could be early signs of MS but that my MRI didn’t show anything significant yet and that all I could do at this point was track the progress of my symptoms.
It has been 6 years and I’m off of antidepressants and back to work, but the mental and physical issues are still there. Does anybody have any suggestions as to what I might be suffering from? Or where I might find further help or alternative treatments?
I feel like I’ve reached a milestone, being able to get back to work and starting to live a normal life again- but I’d really like to be able to enjoy sex again and feel
... keep reading on reddit ➡(Brief background: I am an only child in her mid-20's with an all-around stable life. My mother has been an alcoholic since she was in college, before I was born. She's been in and out of rehabs her whole life. My parents divorced many years ago.)
Throughout my life, my mother has had her ups and downs. Most recently, though, her life has been spiraling out of control. First, she lost her job & went on unemployment. Shortly after, she decided to stop looking for a new job & instead spent her days in front of the TV & getting drunk. At some point I decided to move out because the way she was choosing to live was affecting my concentration in school (it's hard to focus on getting a degree when you have to call 911 for your mom, who is cyanotic/on the floor/barely responsive). In fact, she's been consistently in and out of the local hospital's ICU. Unfortunately they can't do much else besides rehabilitate her, assign her a social worker, and send her home.
Throughout this time, she's damaged her brain and body so much that she can't move without the help of a walker. It followed that all of her money ran out, and now she's going to lose the house. She's also showing signs of alcoholic dementia. She's completely lost touch with reality, and she's unable to comprehend what's going on or what situation she put herself into. She's a threat to other people (multiple car accidents) as well as herself (suicidal ideation).
At this point, I would like to obtain POA so I can at least make medical decisions for her... But when it comes to the financial aspect, I have next to no experience with equity loans or mortgages or property taxes. I'm not really too certain exactly what holding POA over someone entails. I'm not sure if this responsibility would best be handled by myself or my uncle (her brother).
My goals are as follows:
-Obtain POA, if appropriate
-Get her rehabilitated, both physically and mentally
-Get her back on her feet financially
I realize that some of these goals might not be attainable or realistic, but one can only hope. I would like to get some advice on what being an attorney-in-fact entails and what social services might be available to help in this situation.
Hey guys I’m 25 years old 83 days sober… I’m just curious as to how long it’ll take for your mind to start healing? Before I started drinking I was super funny, charismatic and could talk and keep a conversation with ANYONE. Girls loved me and guys wanted to be me.. after 25 beers and 15 shots every Friday and Saturday for 7 years, I just don’t feel the same. 83 days sober and I’m sleeping better and have clearer skin but my mind doesn’t feel the same. I feel dead inside and don’t have the zest for people and life… maybe have some kind of brain damage? I’m not sure how long does it take to start healing…
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2021/05/19/health/alcohol-brain-health-intl-scli-wellness/index.html
You’re welcome
Hello guys,
thank you in advance if somebody is gonna answer this.
After some episodes of DPDR mostly triggered by binge drinking for me, my condition slided into something else where I was super nervous,suffered from insomnia,social isolation,loss of memory. I abstained from everything for like 3 months,nothing changed. I started taking Lexapro because my psychiatrist saw ''just a lot of anxiety'' which I don't think was that true. However, lexapro made a bit out of reality but I started seeing people again and grade were good. Anyway, I have been blinded by the possible life I could have again anda started binge drinking a little (even because Lexapro's side effects were awful). I stopped taking lexapro after 3 months almost cold turkey and I have been brain dead since then. I feel like I should have never done this to myself,I should have never taken antidepressants, at least my grades were good before this. What do I have now? I can't concentrate, I cry every day, mood swings, can't talk to people,I can't do anything but staring at a walll, my brain has been definetely fried,my memory doesn't exist anymore.
So,I'd appreciate any history regarding lexapro mixed with alcohol and related damages and lexapro withdrawal which seems pretty the same of brain dead.
I wish I had never taken anything, i am more damaged than I was,fuck,there is no coming back.
