Can my mental issues be due to schizophrenia or anxiety?
Hello doctor,
These past few days I have been bad as I have focused back on my schizophrenia obsession. It mainly focuses on times I have been paranoid, or times I have visualized things as something else. Examples: when slacking off at work thinking, what if there are cameras in the office or internet tracking software. When having a bad intrusive thought thinking, what if someone around me can read my thoughts and thinks I am crazy. Seeing the silhouette of something really far away and imagining it is something else like a door stopper from very far away looks like the shape of a bird or a sandbag propped in the shape of a cat.
These are just a couple of examples that make me fear I am paranoid/delusional or on the edge of hallucinating things. There are other ones along those same lines that pop up on random occasions that I do not necessarily believe 100% but the possibility still causes me anxiety. Then the fact that they cause me anxiety causes me even more anxious after the fact wondering if these are paranoid or delusional thoughts.
I have talked to my therapist about these fears in the past but I may have left something out or not brought up these examples in clear enough detail. She does not believe I have schizophrenia. I also have talked to a psychiatrist and she told me these types of paranoid ideas may occur in anxiety or depression.
I am just terrified that paranoia is not a symptom of OCD and my poor vision cannot explain the minor visual imaginings (not even hallucinations just premature constructions of shapes/outlines) and that I am not taking appropriate action to combat a much deeper mental illness.
My only issue with my thoughts is that they did not occur after I started fearing schizophrenia. I have always had general anxiety. They all have happened throughout my past. After I started fearing schizophrenia I combed through my memories to try to find evidence that I am developing it. And in that rumination process, I picked out all the times I have had paranoid thoughts. Though I usually do not believe the thoughts or hold them to be true, I still get anxious at 'what if'. I am hoping that is the defining characteristic that proves they are products of anxiety and OCD versus schizophrenia. Am I schizophrenic? Could it be just anxiety? I also have an uncle who is schizophrenic and that always scares me. Does it mean I am too?
16 Apr 2024 - 1 min read
Will benzodiazepines help my anxiety and panic attacks?
Hello doctor,
I currently suffer from anxiety attacks and panic attacks. It has been changing over the course of about four years, getting better and worse again. In everyday life it is manageable, but the attacks cause some unreasonable thoughts and ideas to form. I have heard about the use of Benzodiazepines for anxiety. Can they be taken to stop panic and anxiety attacks without needing consistent everyday dosages?
During panic or anxiety attacks, I usually feel very worthless and in some cases try to or think about hurting myself. Generally, my anxiety tends to do with social situations where I feel like I am not liked or if I said something wrong. I have visited a counselor in the past, very briefly. Ironically my anxiety was worsened with the guilt of therapy being very expensive so I stopped seeing her.
16 Apr 2024 - 1 min read
Why does panic attack occur after codeine or Marijuana?
Hello doctor,
I am a 22-year-old healthy male. Yesterday I had my first panic attack and it was severe and lasted long. I have ended up in the emergency room. But they just gave me a Diazepam and I was feeling good again, but they never told me what triggered and I am curious. Last night I drank 110 mg of phosphate codeine (liquid) and drank one 600 ml beer and then smoked Marijuana. Once I get back home which was a couple of hours later, right after I smoked the panic attack started. But I am smoking for six years and just strong strains and concentrated and nothing ever happened before (yesterday I smoked a really non-potent one). My question is, is it possible that the weed is causing the panic attack or it was the codeine with beers? I really do not want that to happen again.
16 Apr 2024 - 1 min read
I have depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance with low mood. How to elevate my mood?
Hello doctor,
I have masked depression, and anxiety accompanied by sleep disturbances. I often get irritable and depressed. Other conditions are IBS and restless legs. I am prescribed Mirtazapine 3.75 mg along with Clonazepam 0.75 mg. While I can sleep eight hours it has not improved in other parts of my life. My mood is always low and negative. Can you suggest something to elevate my mood and stabilize it so that I can switch to an active life? I am currently on Metoprolol SR 50 mg, Atorvastatin 10 mg, Telmisartan 40 mg, Furic Acid 40 mg, Ursodeoxycholic acid 450, Mirtazapine 3.75 mg, Clonazepam 0.75 mg, Coenzyme Q10, pre and probiotics.
Please help.
15 Mar 2024 - 1 min read
How to reduce the dosage of antidepressants?
Hello doctor.
I have been using certain medicines for the past 20 years. However, I want to quit some of them to heal my body from chemical abuse. I use tablet Valproate EG 500, tablet Wellbutrin XR 150 mg, tablet Escitalopram 15 mg, tablet Emconcor 2.5 mg, tablet Xanax Retard 0.5 mg, tablet Pantoprazole 20 mg, tablet Questran 4 grams, and tablet Diazepam 5 mg. Kindly suggest a revised schedule.
Thank you.
29 Jan 2024 - 1 min read
