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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by rskontos on September 17, 2007, at 16:50:51
I just wondered if there is anyone else that uses dissociation to control their anxiety like I do. I often lose my connection with reality. It is happening more and more. It doesn't happen in my home so I am thinking I don't really have partial seizures which they are trying to medicate for but it is part of of the dissociative disorder my therapist diagnosised me with. I have done this since childhood. The frequency of the loss of reality is happening more and more. They are freaky. My anxiety is high and I wonder if that is part of the problem. I can't seem to control it too much although yesterday seemed to be a good day. I haven't seen my therapist lately because during a high I thought I didnt' need her. I do have mood swings but the therapist didn't think I was bi-polar. I don't know anymore. I do dissociate alot and I think I could just drift off one day and stay disconnected from the world because it would be so easy. I fear so much. I tried talking to my husband and he says I handle things well. Better than him. I told him I hide it well and that is coping but I don't think I can hang on much longer. The depression comes in waves. But he can't understand because he never has had depression and he doesn't have these freaky blank outs. I had them so much as a teenager and now they are back just like then. I mean they never have left but they were infrequent. Now I am having them alot. But not at home. I have tried to induce them to see if I could so far no. Anyone else out there ever have one, I hope no for your sake but I feel freaky right now. I wonder if I got something to handle the anxiety med wise would they go away some. Anyone with any suggestions. I need something for the anxiety to take the edge off. Thanks in advance for any suggestions. RK
Posted by Phillipa on September 17, 2007, at 17:57:42
In reply to Anyone with anxiety and dissociation issues, posted by rskontos on September 17, 2007, at 16:50:51
More info on anxiety needed. Disassociation is a condition that may belong on psychology. But you're asking for a med to help. Are you seeing a doctor and a therapist or only a therapist Phillipa
Posted by rskontos on September 17, 2007, at 22:24:25
In reply to Re: Anyone with anxiety and dissociation issues » rskontos, posted by Phillipa on September 17, 2007, at 17:57:42
I have had panic attacks, and general anxiety about everthing. sometimes I can't function due to the anxiety and i lose days. I think the anxiety is causing the loss of reality things I don't know what to call them. Reality dims, actually I wake up to a conscious level, sometimes I miss an entire conversation but the person I am speaking to seems to think I am still with it I just don't know I have been speaking. Does this make sense. I don't know what to call these you would call them black outs if I drank but I don't. The neuro calls them partial seizures but I wonder since non of the meds are stopping them and the therapist calls them part of the dissociative disorder too. So I am confused. I am getting more anxious because they are happening more and I think I need a medication to help with the anxiety to see if they would stop. Since they themselves from what I read dissociation disorders don't always respond well to meds especially depersonalization which I think this a part of. I don't really know yet. I was hoping maybe someone else has some experience or knows someone that might send some light and help with the med part. The therapist is out of town of course. I guess I will just call the neuro and see if I can get in to see her and then maybe get a p-doc recommendation. I am trying to call a friend that is psycologist (ms) to see if she can help too. I read on one of the site someone here recommended that group therapy can be helpful so I am trying to find a situation for that too. Anything. I am anxious about everything. Thanks for responding though. I am seeing a gp but this out of her league. I asked for something for anxiety and she wasn't helpful. Just wanting to give me another AD but it was wellbutrin. Not what I think I need really. And the neuro disagreed. She suggested lexapro. I would like to find a p-doc that specializes in mood disorders. That would be most helpful. But if someone here thought a particular drug would help maybe the neuro would give it too me until I found a p-doc. Anyway, just a thought. RK
Posted by Phillipa on September 17, 2007, at 22:50:51
In reply to Re: Anyone with anxiety and dissociation issues, posted by rskontos on September 17, 2007, at 22:24:25
Okay understand a little better I think you are currently on no meds correct? Wellbutrin wouldn't be a good choice if the neuro thinks you have partial seizures as this med can sometimes cause seizures. Sounds like you need something to calm you down. Of course my first choice is a benzo as it would calm you down and valium is given in seizures so to me that would be a good choice. But seems like the pdocs today prefer the atypical antipsychotics, zyprexa is a good one, resperidol, seroquel, abilify has known to be activating but a lot people like that one. Most pdocs think axiety first choice is an antidepressant. So I'd try and write down or print out this thread and give it to the doc. Keep posting. Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on September 17, 2007, at 22:54:16
In reply to Re: Anyone with anxiety and dissociation issues, posted by rskontos on September 17, 2007, at 22:24:25
Reread the initial thread and you say none of the meds are helping. What ones are you on now? Phillipa
Posted by brooke484 on September 18, 2007, at 9:00:38
In reply to Anyone with anxiety and dissociation issues, posted by rskontos on September 17, 2007, at 16:50:51
Yes, I have this. I've had it so long I forget what it's like to be normal. I'm constantly in a dreamstate and it's horrible. The only relief came when I took imipramine back in the 90's and lexapro back in 2002. The imipramine cleared it 100% but the lexapro was only about 75% which I would gladly take now. I just started Marplan and will add Lamictal in a few weeks. I've been on so many drugs, but those were the only two that helped. Are you taking any meds? Oh, Paxil helped somewhat, but it wasn't the best. Klonopin also helps a little. You just have to find the right drug combo and that takes a lot of patience.
Hang in there. I know how you feel. If I didn't have a 3 year old to take care of I would probably stay in bed all day. This is no way to live.
brooke
Posted by rskontos on September 18, 2007, at 18:20:56
In reply to Re: Anyone with anxiety and dissociation issues, posted by brooke484 on September 18, 2007, at 9:00:38
Oh thank you for answering. I felt so bad after I posted like some freak. The only other person that knew about this was my mom who is deceased and it is hard to open up about something you have denied for so long. Thanks Phillipa I will print to take. I am only taking topamax now. I will take these with me when I go to the doctor. It is so confusing this medication world. I hope I can find something to just ease it for now. For a while I hated cymbalta but now I know it was just the wrong drug for me but it did help me confront things I needed to so it isn't all bad. I know I can't keep all this inside anymore. I am not sure I have ever been normal maybe a normal baby. But after the age of 2-3 no more normal for me. I know that dreamstate because sometimes that is only place you feel safe. But it is hard to get out of that place when you want to. Why did you go off imipramine if it cleared it up 100%. My neuro suggested lexapro but I resisted because cymbalta was so hard on my system. I have a 14 year old son that doesn't need me so much and my daughter is now at college so I have to force myself to get up and get moving and it is getting so hard to do. I keep telling myself over and over I have a good life, I have a good life. Maybe soon I will believe it. Again thanks so much.
Posted by brooke484 on September 18, 2007, at 20:27:20
In reply to Re: Anyone with anxiety and dissociation issues, posted by rskontos on September 18, 2007, at 18:20:56
I never should have stopped imipramine. It worked so well that I said, "I feel great, I don't need this anymore." Well, about 3 months later I had a major relape and the rest is history. Lexapro was a great drug, but it didn't work as well as I wanted it to and my doctor wasn't the best as far as mixing drugs, so we just switched to another. Lexapro never worked again (either did imipramine). So now I'm just trying drug after drug after drug and nothing is working and I'm getting worse and worse.
Cymbalta did not work for me. Did you try any of the SSRI's? Those work really well for anxiety. They just didn't do much for the derealization feelings.
Hope you find some relief soon. This is a terible feeling to live with.
brooke
Posted by rskontos on September 19, 2007, at 18:35:29
In reply to Re: Anyone with anxiety and dissociation issues, posted by brooke484 on September 18, 2007, at 20:27:20
Thanks brooke, it is hard. I have only tried cymbalta and it was so hard to get off of I am gun shy. I have a doc appt on Oct 5 with the neuro and had hoped the therapist would call today. She has been on vacation. I would like to find a p-doc. Been looking for a clinic maybe. I have a friend that is psychologist I think I will give her a try for a recommendation of p-doc and maybe group therapy. Thanks, I might give the imipramine or lexapro some thought. Rhonda
Posted by rskontos on September 19, 2007, at 18:35:37
In reply to Re: Anyone with anxiety and dissociation issues, posted by brooke484 on September 18, 2007, at 20:27:20
Thanks brooke, it is hard. I have only tried cymbalta and it was so hard to get off of I am gun shy. I have a doc appt on Oct 5 with the neuro and had hoped the therapist would call today. She has been on vacation. I would like to find a p-doc. Been looking for a clinic maybe. I have a friend that is psychologist I think I will give her a try for a recommendation of p-doc and maybe group therapy. Thanks, I might give the imipramine or lexapro some thought. Rhonda
Posted by 6 underground on September 19, 2007, at 23:24:42
In reply to Re: Anyone with anxiety and dissociation issues, posted by rskontos on September 19, 2007, at 18:35:37
yea i had very bad problems with dissocation back in the early 00's. Panic attack, litterly feeling an egg is cracking over my head and the yok is going over me. Freaky....
I dont want to rerember that time. But you hang in here. Ask about Ativan, 2mg didnt work for me but i may for you.
Posted by rskontos on September 20, 2007, at 13:33:18
In reply to Re: Anyone with anxiety and dissociation issues, posted by 6 underground on September 19, 2007, at 23:24:42
Thanks 6 underground, my therapist called back, hopefully she can help me find a p-doc that will help me with the meds. I will ask about ativan too. I have printed the replies off to help me remember everything since the ole ticker isn't great in the memory dept these days. I am trying to hang in there..I usually dissociate so I dont have a panic attack but it doesn't always work so I have been having panic attacks of late. Again, thanks for the support and I know how you don't want to remember these things. That feeling of seeing the world through a tunnel aint fun, it is down right freaky. And the out of body experience, well it is one thing to take something to induce it and it is another for your body to do this thing on its own, you know what I mean. Weird.
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