Posted by yxibow on May 2, 2006, at 2:26:03
In reply to THIS IS MY STORY, CrazyHorse, anybody, posted by UgottaHaveHope on May 1, 2006, at 21:44:08
The tightness in your chest is flight or fight sensations. Anxiety is a powerful feeling and it activates what is known as the autonomic nervous system, the primitive part of our brain that controls bodily pathways. Sweats, hot flashes, all sorts of things happen with things like GAD, OCD, and the like. Its also worth knowing that almost all of the serotonin receptors in your body are in your gut. Why they are is up to evolution, who knows. Perhaps to protect against bad food.
Its hard to say exactly what it is but besides GAD I'd bet you are suffering from sporadic somatiform disorder. The focus on the symptoms -- numbness, sweats, etc, becomes circular and its all about the body. Its not your fault, its a psychiatric condition. People used to think it as malingering but I can tell you its definately not.
I can relate with the escape -- its very easy to go to sleep and forget about the world. You dont want to actually commit suicide or something drastic but you want to not feel anything. And waking up from such a sleep can be depressing because you're back where you started from.
Its heartening to hear that you've been able to work out of home. That's something I should be able to do but I'm not there yet. And I've been temporarily staying with my parents for quite a temporary period so I understand that.I hate to be alone too. I feel like I might do something to myself. Its a human instinct, or desire to be social. Some people like the total opposite and can't stand to be around others, but most are gregarious. Its not a pathology, don't worry about that. We all want to be with someone, maybe a friend, maybe a roommate, maybe a significant other. They're all on the spectrum of relationships. I cannot for the life of me remember what book or movie this quote came from, but I remember it alot and it is quoted alot -- In the end, we're all alone. Meaning we are in control of our own destiny, in a sense.
Now as for your situation, 250mg of Seroquel is not quite a clinical dose for some people but may be enough for you. But for GAD, I guess I would second the idea of a continual dose of a long acting benzodiazepine such as Klonopin or Valium as a first resort, leaving other aforementioned esoteric drugs on the backburner, including Seroquel. Its not that Seroquel couldn't be of use but I also agree its not of primary use in GAD.
Lyrica (one of those esoteric drugs) can also be used offlabel for that purpose but it has a variety of side effects and I would discuss that with your doctor if long term dosage of Klonopin does not work. Neurontin, almost similar to Lyrica, does not have quite the side effects.
My 2cI hope you feel better
Tidings
-- Jay
poster:yxibow
thread:639045
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060429/msgs/639106.html