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Suggest Treatment For Intrusive Thoughts While Having Anxiety
Question: I have a mental health problem and I need some help. please reply if you can be of assistance. thank you!
kindly state your query
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I have a mental health problem and I need some help. please reply if you can be of assistance. thank you!
Brief Answer:
Please post your query
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.
I am Dr Ashok Kumar a psychiatrist by profession.
I am willing to answer your query related to mental health.
You are requested to post your query.
Thanks again.
Please post your query
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for using Healthcaremagic.
I am Dr Ashok Kumar a psychiatrist by profession.
I am willing to answer your query related to mental health.
You are requested to post your query.
Thanks again.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I have been suffering from intrusive mental images. they just suddenly started appearing and I have had anxiety disorder all of my life. I am scared that they are the psychosis. These images TERRIFY me. I also suffer from depersonalization/derealization and now all of a sudden, I feel that everything is strange and unfamiliar. Everyday life seems strange to me, although I know what I am doing and I am functioning normally (according to others, as I have asked numerous times). The mental images jump from one thing to another - one minute they will be about my baby and me visualizing myself hurting her (please don't misunderstand me -- I DONOT want to harm my child I am absolutely fearful of anything happening to her, so much that I am afraid to be alone with her in fear that I would do anything unintentionally). I am just so scared I don't know own what to do anymore. I am constantly in a great amount of terror and I am afraid that I have this condition called the psychosis. What if I end up killing myself?
I have seen a psychiatrist and have been placed on Effexor and have started at a low dose and just had it increased to 75mgs. But what if it doesn't help me? I am scared that I am going to die from this. Please if you can help I would really appreciate it. Thank you so much for your reply.
I have seen a psychiatrist and have been placed on Effexor and have started at a low dose and just had it increased to 75mgs. But what if it doesn't help me? I am scared that I am going to die from this. Please if you can help I would really appreciate it. Thank you so much for your reply.
Brief Answer:
It will definitely help you
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for reverting back to me with valuable details.
Presence of intrusive thoughts without loss of reality indicates that there is no Psychosis. I understand your fears but it is again another manifestation of anxiety disorder other called as obsessive ruminations which can present either aloneor with other anxiety disorder.
The antidepressants are highly effective in obsessive ruminations and same is true for anxiety disorder.
I must assure you that this is treatable condition and it is time to keep your nerves under control.
In case you have nothing prescribed for acute anxiety, it will be better to visit emergency. In case you have any benzodiazepines such as xanax, valium or ativan or clonazepam you can take one low dose pill of any of these medications for acute anxiety control.
I hope this helps you.
If you have more questions feel free to write back to me.
Thanks and regards.
It will definitely help you
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for reverting back to me with valuable details.
Presence of intrusive thoughts without loss of reality indicates that there is no Psychosis. I understand your fears but it is again another manifestation of anxiety disorder other called as obsessive ruminations which can present either aloneor with other anxiety disorder.
The antidepressants are highly effective in obsessive ruminations and same is true for anxiety disorder.
I must assure you that this is treatable condition and it is time to keep your nerves under control.
In case you have nothing prescribed for acute anxiety, it will be better to visit emergency. In case you have any benzodiazepines such as xanax, valium or ativan or clonazepam you can take one low dose pill of any of these medications for acute anxiety control.
I hope this helps you.
If you have more questions feel free to write back to me.
Thanks and regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thank you very much for your help and reply.
do you know what causes these intrusive images? Also, do you know how they might stop and go away? If my anxiety levels decrease, might that help them stop? I am terrified of them and are fearful that they suggest the psychosis.
Thank you for your help again as I greatly appreciate it.
do you know what causes these intrusive images? Also, do you know how they might stop and go away? If my anxiety levels decrease, might that help them stop? I am terrified of them and are fearful that they suggest the psychosis.
Thank you for your help again as I greatly appreciate it.
Brief Answer:
The anxiety level have effect on intrusive thoughts
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for reverting back to me.
I am glad to know that information was useful and you are relieved to know that it is not psychosis (I assume).
Now regarding the cause of these intrusive thoughts I like to inform you that same pathology plays role in these thoughts as in anxiety. It has been postulated that certain areas of brain have depletion of neurotransmitter called serotonin. The deficiency leads to poor control over thought process and leads to thoughts which are scary beyond the relevance.
Regarding the management
In case visiting emergency is out of question and you do not have any benzodiazepines as mentioned in my post I request you to do following
Isolate yourself from all kinds of stimulations (it could be separate room) and start doing deep breathing. See the watch and have a respiratory cycle of 10-12 seconds.This can be done in simple way by deep inhalation and slow exhalation.
While doing this concentrate yourself on breath and achieve a state where you are aware of your breath moving in and out but nothing else.
Within a period of 10-15 minutes you will see a good control over the intrusive thoughts and you will feel that you are at the control.
Regarding the relationship between the anxiety and intrusive thoughts I must inform you that they have direct relationship and if one foes down another follows in same direction.
I hope this assists you.
If you have more questions I will be glad to assist you further.
If you do not have more questions, please close the discussion and if possible rate the answer for my future patients.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
Thanks and regards.
The anxiety level have effect on intrusive thoughts
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for reverting back to me.
I am glad to know that information was useful and you are relieved to know that it is not psychosis (I assume).
Now regarding the cause of these intrusive thoughts I like to inform you that same pathology plays role in these thoughts as in anxiety. It has been postulated that certain areas of brain have depletion of neurotransmitter called serotonin. The deficiency leads to poor control over thought process and leads to thoughts which are scary beyond the relevance.
Regarding the management
In case visiting emergency is out of question and you do not have any benzodiazepines as mentioned in my post I request you to do following
Isolate yourself from all kinds of stimulations (it could be separate room) and start doing deep breathing. See the watch and have a respiratory cycle of 10-12 seconds.This can be done in simple way by deep inhalation and slow exhalation.
While doing this concentrate yourself on breath and achieve a state where you are aware of your breath moving in and out but nothing else.
Within a period of 10-15 minutes you will see a good control over the intrusive thoughts and you will feel that you are at the control.
Regarding the relationship between the anxiety and intrusive thoughts I must inform you that they have direct relationship and if one foes down another follows in same direction.
I hope this assists you.
If you have more questions I will be glad to assist you further.
If you do not have more questions, please close the discussion and if possible rate the answer for my future patients.
In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
Thanks and regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
thank you so much for your reply, it is greatly appreciated!
In regards to the mental imagery, what I would like to know I guess is the cause behind it extreme anxiety? I donot have intrusive thoughts like I do images. I am not sure if I have explained it correctly, but they are images that are envisioned in MY head.
Thank you for clarifying this for me. It would be most helpful :)
In regards to the mental imagery, what I would like to know I guess is the cause behind it extreme anxiety? I donot have intrusive thoughts like I do images. I am not sure if I have explained it correctly, but they are images that are envisioned in MY head.
Thank you for clarifying this for me. It would be most helpful :)
Brief Answer:
Intrusive thoughts and images both can occur in similar way
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for reverting back to me.
Mental imagery can be normal for some extent when it is coupled with anxiety, brain starts to interpret the mental images as real and threatening despite knowing that they are just own creation.
I also like t inform you that obsessive pattern characterized by intrusive thoughts, images and impulses (as definition goes) and have same pathology.
I hope this helps you further.
In case you have more questions you will need to open new thread using my url which is as follows http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
This is because only three follow ups are allowed for single question.
Thanks again
Intrusive thoughts and images both can occur in similar way
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for reverting back to me.
Mental imagery can be normal for some extent when it is coupled with anxiety, brain starts to interpret the mental images as real and threatening despite knowing that they are just own creation.
I also like t inform you that obsessive pattern characterized by intrusive thoughts, images and impulses (as definition goes) and have same pathology.
I hope this helps you further.
In case you have more questions you will need to open new thread using my url which is as follows http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
This is because only three follow ups are allowed for single question.
Thanks again
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thank you so much for your reply. it is most appreciated and I cannot thank you enough.
I have one last inquiry for you, if possible. please let me know if this would be OK. Thank you again for your continued help and support.
I have one last inquiry for you, if possible. please let me know if this would be OK. Thank you again for your continued help and support.
Brief Answer:
You are always welcome
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for follow up.
I am glad to know that my answer was reassuring and it helped you immensely.
You are always welcome to post more questions as follow up or direct questions using my url.
Thanks again.
You are always welcome
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for follow up.
I am glad to know that my answer was reassuring and it helped you immensely.
You are always welcome to post more questions as follow up or direct questions using my url.
Thanks again.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thank you. I will be sending my follow up questions to you shortly.
Brief Answer:
I will wait for you
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for follow up.
Feel free to post your questions anytime. I will be glad to answer them to best of my knowledge.
In case the question thread is closed you can use my url to post direct questions to me.
Wish you best of health.
Thanks again.
I will wait for you
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for follow up.
Feel free to post your questions anytime. I will be glad to answer them to best of my knowledge.
In case the question thread is closed you can use my url to post direct questions to me.
Wish you best of health.
Thanks again.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
Thank you for your reply, and for waiting.
However, I am concerned as to what is behind these images. No matter what I see, my brain twists it and turns it into something that can be considered scary or hazardous. I am now obsessed and scared because I have a constant, nagging feeling of complete and utter terror and fear over me. It is so bad that I find it difficult to move. I am in some sort of state of terror that I cannot break from. I am very worried about this.
Please do not misunderstand me when I say this. I don't want to for you to think that I have a desire. However, I have this constant, incredibly feeling that I am going to commit suicide. It is as if something is telling me that I am going to end up doing that, and it terrifies me. There are no voices or hallucinations that are telling me this....it is just like an overall continuous feeling that I am dying and it makes me so upset. I do not want to die and something is making me believe that I am going to end up committing suicide, so I am scared to be alone and I feel safe if I am with someone at all times. I get flashing mental images of seeing myself being hung, my wrists slit, or myself in a coffin. This is ofcourse mental imagery and I know that it is all in my head but I am not PURPOSELY envisioning these things --- they are intrusive and bothersome and won't go away. I really want for them to stop. I am seeing a therapist but it is not helping with it acutely going away.
Please, if you can be of any assistance and offer some suggestions on how to help my situation, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you so much :)
However, I am concerned as to what is behind these images. No matter what I see, my brain twists it and turns it into something that can be considered scary or hazardous. I am now obsessed and scared because I have a constant, nagging feeling of complete and utter terror and fear over me. It is so bad that I find it difficult to move. I am in some sort of state of terror that I cannot break from. I am very worried about this.
Please do not misunderstand me when I say this. I don't want to for you to think that I have a desire. However, I have this constant, incredibly feeling that I am going to commit suicide. It is as if something is telling me that I am going to end up doing that, and it terrifies me. There are no voices or hallucinations that are telling me this....it is just like an overall continuous feeling that I am dying and it makes me so upset. I do not want to die and something is making me believe that I am going to end up committing suicide, so I am scared to be alone and I feel safe if I am with someone at all times. I get flashing mental images of seeing myself being hung, my wrists slit, or myself in a coffin. This is ofcourse mental imagery and I know that it is all in my head but I am not PURPOSELY envisioning these things --- they are intrusive and bothersome and won't go away. I really want for them to stop. I am seeing a therapist but it is not helping with it acutely going away.
Please, if you can be of any assistance and offer some suggestions on how to help my situation, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you so much :)
Brief Answer:
SSRI should be the treatment of choice
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for follow up and putting your trust in my ability to heal you.
With added new information I feel SSRI should be the treatment of choice. I do agree that Venlafaxine is good option to treat anxiety and associated symptoms but it has limited efficacy in intrusive thoughts when they are of the magnitude which you described. I hope you know I mean by SSRI but for clarity I feel Paxil or Prozac is better option if they have not been tried.
Regarding the acute management as suggested yesterday I feel the deep breathing exercises must help you to a significant level. It is also recommend to have a good exercise session as it releases endorphins in the brain and helps you in relieving your anxiety. In addition have at least one citrous fruit and some antioxidant pills to manage the random but disturbing thoughts.
In case they does not help you to a level which is desired visiting emergency is option.
I hope this causes some relief at your end.
Thanks and regards.
SSRI should be the treatment of choice
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for follow up and putting your trust in my ability to heal you.
With added new information I feel SSRI should be the treatment of choice. I do agree that Venlafaxine is good option to treat anxiety and associated symptoms but it has limited efficacy in intrusive thoughts when they are of the magnitude which you described. I hope you know I mean by SSRI but for clarity I feel Paxil or Prozac is better option if they have not been tried.
Regarding the acute management as suggested yesterday I feel the deep breathing exercises must help you to a significant level. It is also recommend to have a good exercise session as it releases endorphins in the brain and helps you in relieving your anxiety. In addition have at least one citrous fruit and some antioxidant pills to manage the random but disturbing thoughts.
In case they does not help you to a level which is desired visiting emergency is option.
I hope this causes some relief at your end.
Thanks and regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Hello and thank you very much for your help and support.
I am a bit confused. I donot understand what you mean by me going to emergency. Do you feel that I am at risk to myself or in regards to the suicide images? Please let me know what you feel is behind or causing these intrusive mental images. I would like to know the CAUSE of them. I am terrified that it is the psychosis.
Thank you again for your help and reassurance, it is greatly appreciated kind sir!
I am a bit confused. I donot understand what you mean by me going to emergency. Do you feel that I am at risk to myself or in regards to the suicide images? Please let me know what you feel is behind or causing these intrusive mental images. I would like to know the CAUSE of them. I am terrified that it is the psychosis.
Thank you again for your help and reassurance, it is greatly appreciated kind sir!
Brief Answer:
No, I do not mean so
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for reverting back to me.
I have offered some solutions for the ongoing problem which can be help to you.
In case they do not help you visiting emergency is option where they can give you medications to have some better control over those thoughts.
I do not mean that you are at risk but the thoughts are really scary and any amount of help is warranted when the home remedy option do not work adequately.
As I said it is not psychosis.
I hope this helps you further.
In case you have more questions you will need to open new thread using my url which is as follows
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
It is simple and type the question after pasting my url in task bar where you will see my profile and a open box to post your question.
Thanks again
No, I do not mean so
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for reverting back to me.
I have offered some solutions for the ongoing problem which can be help to you.
In case they do not help you visiting emergency is option where they can give you medications to have some better control over those thoughts.
I do not mean that you are at risk but the thoughts are really scary and any amount of help is warranted when the home remedy option do not work adequately.
As I said it is not psychosis.
I hope this helps you further.
In case you have more questions you will need to open new thread using my url which is as follows
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-ashok-kumar/67386
It is simple and type the question after pasting my url in task bar where you will see my profile and a open box to post your question.
Thanks again
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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