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Suggest Treatment For Intrusive Thoughts While Having Anxiety
Question: 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:
Exposure therapy
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX, intrusive mental images are a common symptom of anxiety disorder. the best line of treatment is selective serotonin inhibitor as Effexor. unfortunately Effexor may take several weeks before it reaches its therapeutic levels in order to start working. in the meanwhile you might refer to your doctor to increase the dose to 150 mg to fasten your improvement . another line of therapy is the exposure therapy. this line of therapy depend on facing your fears. this means that if you are terrified to hurt your daughter ( no doubt that you love her and wish her no harm ) , then you should spend more time with her playing and engaging in all sort of activities with her . this will help you get rid of your fears and get a self confidence that you are a loving father that will never hurt your baby. as for the depersonalizations and derealization this could be treated by Prozac . Prozac needs to be prescribed by a doctor. also comprehensive cognitive therapy by a psychologist will help with both the intrusive mental images and the depersonalizations and derealizations . I hope I answered your question. if you don't have any other clarifications then please close the discussion and rate the answer
Exposure therapy
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXX, intrusive mental images are a common symptom of anxiety disorder. the best line of treatment is selective serotonin inhibitor as Effexor. unfortunately Effexor may take several weeks before it reaches its therapeutic levels in order to start working. in the meanwhile you might refer to your doctor to increase the dose to 150 mg to fasten your improvement . another line of therapy is the exposure therapy. this line of therapy depend on facing your fears. this means that if you are terrified to hurt your daughter ( no doubt that you love her and wish her no harm ) , then you should spend more time with her playing and engaging in all sort of activities with her . this will help you get rid of your fears and get a self confidence that you are a loving father that will never hurt your baby. as for the depersonalizations and derealization this could be treated by Prozac . Prozac needs to be prescribed by a doctor. also comprehensive cognitive therapy by a psychologist will help with both the intrusive mental images and the depersonalizations and derealizations . I hope I answered your question. if you don't have any other clarifications then please close the discussion and rate the answer
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thank you for your reply.
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.
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.
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:
Suicide obsession
Detailed Answer:
Dear sir,
I understand all your concerns and I won't misunderstand any of them. It is certain that these thoughts are involuntary and unpleasant. what you are experiencing is called suicide obsession.
Suicide obsession is when you keep having thoughts and picturing yourself committing suicide or trying to hurt yourself . This is accompanied by lack of desire to do so and fear that these thoughts happen in real. Suicide obsession is a unique symptom of obsessive compulsive disorder.
Obsessive compulsive disorder is a type of anxiety disorder. Again the treatment to this is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as Prozac.
I suggest that you go back to your doctor to increase the dose if the current dose is not satisfactory. If this line of treatment failed to control the therapy then you can switch to clomipramine. Also the cognitive behavioral therapy may help you a lot.
I hope I answered your question
Suicide obsession
Detailed Answer:
Dear sir,
I understand all your concerns and I won't misunderstand any of them. It is certain that these thoughts are involuntary and unpleasant. what you are experiencing is called suicide obsession.
Suicide obsession is when you keep having thoughts and picturing yourself committing suicide or trying to hurt yourself . This is accompanied by lack of desire to do so and fear that these thoughts happen in real. Suicide obsession is a unique symptom of obsessive compulsive disorder.
Obsessive compulsive disorder is a type of anxiety disorder. Again the treatment to this is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as Prozac.
I suggest that you go back to your doctor to increase the dose if the current dose is not satisfactory. If this line of treatment failed to control the therapy then you can switch to clomipramine. Also the cognitive behavioral therapy may help you a lot.
I hope I answered your question
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
yes, thank you very much. My question is: Do these thoughts and images indicate that I am indeed suicidal? or having suicidal thoughts? Because I DONOT WANT to die. In no way whatsoever. Does having these mental images of that indicate that I am suffering from major depressive disorder? I do not feel sad and donot spend my time crying. I am extremely irritable due to the graphic images that are so bothersome and interruptive.
Thank you very much for your clarification. it is greatly appreciated!
Thank you very much for your clarification. it is greatly appreciated!
Brief Answer:
No, you are not suicidal
Detailed Answer:
Dear sir,
No these thoughts does not mean that you are suicidal . it does not mean that you will commit suicide. No, you are not suicidal and you will not commit suicide. One of the criteria of suicide obsession is that the person does not want to commit suicide and will not commit suicide. The person just get the thought of suicide and sees images of suicide but never commits one.
No, you are not having a major depressive disorder. you are having an anxiety disorder. All these symptoms you are experiencing are part of the anxiety disorder.
I hope you find this helpful.
No, you are not suicidal
Detailed Answer:
Dear sir,
No these thoughts does not mean that you are suicidal . it does not mean that you will commit suicide. No, you are not suicidal and you will not commit suicide. One of the criteria of suicide obsession is that the person does not want to commit suicide and will not commit suicide. The person just get the thought of suicide and sees images of suicide but never commits one.
No, you are not having a major depressive disorder. you are having an anxiety disorder. All these symptoms you are experiencing are part of the anxiety disorder.
I hope you find this helpful.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Thank you very Much for your help and support. I would like to ask you this. If I am able to lower or lessen my anxiety level, do you know if that will help with the intrusive mental images going away? I just would like to know the CAUSE behind these terrifying involuntary mental images that just flash throughout my head without me envisioning them or creating them on my own.
I would greatly appreciate your help please. Thank you for being so kind to me and supportive!
I would greatly appreciate your help please. Thank you for being so kind to me and supportive!
Brief Answer:
Anxiety is the cause
Detailed Answer:
Dear sir, yes the cause behind this is anxiety .
Anxiety leads to these images that keeps coming to your head repeatedly without you trying to picture them. If you can cure your anxiety or decrease it these images will go away. From the way you've described them in written form, I can certainly see you have the will and strength to overcome this and get rid of these thoughts and images with the help of your medications..
Best wishes
I hope I answered you adequately.
Kind Regards
Anxiety is the cause
Detailed Answer:
Dear sir, yes the cause behind this is anxiety .
Anxiety leads to these images that keeps coming to your head repeatedly without you trying to picture them. If you can cure your anxiety or decrease it these images will go away. From the way you've described them in written form, I can certainly see you have the will and strength to overcome this and get rid of these thoughts and images with the help of your medications..
Best wishes
I hope I answered you adequately.
Kind Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
yes, thank you kind sir for your help. So the images in my head pop up involuntarily, you do understand that, correct?
I could be looking at anything and it will trigger image to pop into my head unexpectedly. This is not hallucinations, is it?
Do you know what depersonalization and derealization is in the chronic form? I have had it so many years and never seems to go away.
thank you for getting back to me. your help is greatly appreciated!
I could be looking at anything and it will trigger image to pop into my head unexpectedly. This is not hallucinations, is it?
Do you know what depersonalization and derealization is in the chronic form? I have had it so many years and never seems to go away.
thank you for getting back to me. your help is greatly appreciated!
Brief Answer:
Yes , they seem involuntary
Detailed Answer:
Dear sir, yes these images are involuntary .
These images are not hallucinations . Yes of course, I understand the depersonalization and derealization in chronic form and they will go away eventually .
I know how difficult this is but I assure you it will go away eventually . But you have to follow your medications , go for exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy to help fasten the cure .
I hope I was able to help you.
Yes , they seem involuntary
Detailed Answer:
Dear sir, yes these images are involuntary .
These images are not hallucinations . Yes of course, I understand the depersonalization and derealization in chronic form and they will go away eventually .
I know how difficult this is but I assure you it will go away eventually . But you have to follow your medications , go for exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy to help fasten the cure .
I hope I was able to help you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Kind sir, can you please let me know if these images are being caused by the anxiety ? I am sorry if I sound repetitive I just want to know what is the action behind them.
also, can you please tell me why I feel dissociation? Everything looks and seems so strange and unfamiliar. it is a very scary feeling .
Thank you again for your continued help and support!
also, can you please tell me why I feel dissociation? Everything looks and seems so strange and unfamiliar. it is a very scary feeling .
Thank you again for your continued help and support!
Brief Answer:
Anxiety disorder
Detailed Answer:
Dear sir, the images is caused by anxiety disorder. the depersonalization and dissociation is caused also by anxiety disorder. I hope you find this helpful
Anxiety disorder
Detailed Answer:
Dear sir, the images is caused by anxiety disorder. the depersonalization and dissociation is caused also by anxiety disorder. I hope you find this helpful
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
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