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Hello, I Have A Question Regarding Something I Have Been

Posted on Sat, 10 Aug 2019

Question: Hello, I have a question regarding something I have been going through. I am a 25 year old male in good physical health. In April, I had my first ever anxiety attack that seemed to have come out of nowhere. Prior to this episode, I was stressed but not overly stressed out. Since the attack had occurred I have developed this fear of going insane and developing schizophrenia. This fear has latched on and has been with me ever since. I am the director of sales for my company and never have faced something like this before in prior years. I have constant severe anxiety all day and the thoughts about this have been causing some distress although my therapist, GP, and psychiatrist have told me I have nothing to worry about. I am hyper-aware of my peripheral vision now and I am constantly checking to see if I had saw something when there is absolutely nothing there. Usually if I do see something then it is actually there. I am just so distraught my this and would love to know your opinion about it and why it is occurring. Some of your thoughts and reassurance would be greatly appreciated. Also, my ears are ringing since the anxiety attacks. I keep hearing normal sounds and questioning whether or not I heard them. Often asking for someone else's opinion. These two things are currently stressing me out to the XXXXXXX The only two things that are bothering me. I would just like your opinion on the topic.

I was diagnosed with Pure OCD, GAD, and MDD

Answered by Dr. Soujanya (33 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
My suggestion.

Detailed Answer:
Hi sir,
Welcome to Ask a doctor service,

I have gone through your query in detail and can certainly understand your concern towards your symptoms.

I can understand that you are suffering from schizophrenic symptoms like irrational thinking, disturbing thoughts, difficulty in decision making and all.

Anxiety symptoms are definitely the most common comorbidity in schizophrenia.

Those hearing voices are because of auditory hallucinations that was bothering you which can be treated by antipsychotics.

But, nothing to worry, as these symptoms can be managed with antipsychotics like risperidone and antianxiety drugs like benzodiazepines, along with antidepressants like fluoxetine which will also combat ocd symptoms

You can discuss with your psychiatrist regarding prescription based medicine and these symptoms.

Hope this information would help you.
Thank you.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Soujanya (53 minutes later)

I think there is a language barrier. I am not hearing voices nor am I seeing visual hallucinations. I have a fear of those things from a sudden panic attack in April.

You just told me that my fear is now reality when I haven't hallucinated nor heard any auditory voices?

I have a constant fear of this and therefore constantly check. Can you elaborate?

Follow up: Dr. Soujanya (1 hour later)

Hello,

Can you please follow up on my last question?

I think you misunderstood me. I am Hypervigilent when it comes to things but I have never once hallucinated or heard anything auditory. I just hear normal things and question whether or not I heard them. Asking someone else they say “yeah I heard that too”.

Follow up: Dr. Soujanya (11 hours later)

Hello?!? Please respond accordingly....

Answered by Dr. Soujanya (22 hours later)

Brief Answer:
My suggestion.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back,

I have gone through your follow up query and can certainly understand your concern towards your symptoms.

I just wanted to explain you the auditory does not mean, you need to hear some content in the voices.

Anything that can be heard, from the objective space, with out your will and not able to control, and which is continuous through out the day, with out any external stimuli can be called as auditory hallucinations.

If in your case present only before going to sleep and waking up from sleep can not be called auditory hallucinations.

Other than this scenario, if it characterises the above symptoms, it can be called as such.

Hope this information would help you .
Thank you.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana