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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by clint878 on October 1, 2006, at 19:15:36
Many people here will probably appreciate the irony of the following experience:
I was talking with a friend last night who I hadn't seen in a while. The topic of conversation was how our lives had gone the past few years. He looked at me and told me that he would kill to be in the shape I'm in. He obviously didn't know how ironic the statement was.
I go to the gym five days a week. I can bench and leg press hundreds of pounds, and run six miles at a time. I take multivitamins, B-12 supplements, folic acid, fish oil pills, and all sorts of other things to improve my health. I stay away from all trans-fat, eat whole-wheat products instead of white, drink three cups of green tea a day, and don't smoke or do drugs. The doctor said my cholesterol and blood pressure were excellent and that he wishes that all his patients were so conscious of their health.
Yet, some days I can barely get enough energy to get up, and other times I can barely concentrate enough to write a post half as long as this. It's a constant battle through anxiety to deal with people. Psychiatrists prescribe drug after drug that is useless, or I encounter strange adverse effects that nobody else seems to have to deal with. I talk to therapists about similar topics week after week with little progress. Everything I do seems to be a struggle against my mind.
God must have a sense of humor. How is it possible for people like those on this board to be in excellent physical health, but struggle constantly against our minds just to get the tiniest things done, or, in some cases, just to stay alive?
Posted by Phillipa on October 1, 2006, at 21:16:31
In reply to The irony, posted by clint878 on October 1, 2006, at 19:15:36
Well I'm the talk of the neighborhood as I ride 7.5miles a day on my bike but it's to keep my sanity. Can't sit still. Even wake-up suicidal . Love Phillipa ps they can't see your mind only your exterior
Posted by Chris O on October 1, 2006, at 23:06:17
In reply to The irony, posted by clint878 on October 1, 2006, at 19:15:36
I identify so strongly with your post. Just talking to the cashier at the grocery store is often a monumental task for me! It's like there is always a wall of invisible fear and shame surrounding me, and I can never make it go away. When I exercise--which I like you do frequently in an attempt to alleviate anxiety symptoms--it is often like a war going on inside of my mind. There is immense pain and confusion and a sense of worthlessness as I reflect on my inability to deal with even the most basic stresses in life. I too have been to countless therapists and taken countless drugs, all to little or no avail. However, I have kept myself in excellent health, and even taken on feats of biking hundreds of miles at a time. Of course, I always have the lovely panic attacks and bitterness to combat with while I am doing these things, so...thanks mom and dad! I just wish there was a "cure" for this condition, because I know that my brain is damaged, but I also know that many of psycho-pharmaceuticals on the market are "messy drugs" and do not get to the root causes of the brain damage.
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on October 2, 2006, at 1:16:11
In reply to I completely identify with you! » clint878, posted by Chris O on October 1, 2006, at 23:06:17
Yeah me too. I'm totally healthy as well - or at least I hope I am. I'm vaguely hypochrondriacal, well maybe that should be acutely at times. The problems I have are in my head as you say!
Whats the most ironic thing for me is having panic attacks about myself becoming ill, or some such thing related to my health and being suicidal at the same time. I can feel both at the same time and it doesn't make sense to me.
Oh well - I personally haven't tried therapy - the waiting lists are like 6months-2 years in the UK. Well I'm in a different country now, I have an appointment in a couple of weeks......
This is the end of the thread.
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