Tag:

Extreme Anxiety

Think I’m Worrying an Unhealthy Amount

by Kristina Randle, Ph.D., LCSW March 24, 2024

written by Kristina Randle, Ph.D., LCSW

Around a month and a half ago, my friend introduced to a new drug i hadn’t experimented with called spice. We went outside for a smoke and i treated the substance like marijuana. With it being “synthetic marijuana” i assumed that would be appropriate. Easy to say i overdosed. 5-10 minutes after we smoked my legs began to get numb. I was freaking out. The numbness continued to move upward and eventually i became limp(fainted). All i remember was thinking i was going to die. The worst expirence of my life.i kept telling myself breath you will live. I woke up feeling dizzy and light-headed. Those symptoms went away but now all i think about is somethjng being wrong. I feel like my vision is messed up, way to hard to describe. Sometimes only my eyes zone out where i can still do task but my eyes are focused on one thing. It hasnt impaired my memory and at times i believe my memory to have increase. I have relatively small panic attacks with a few larger ones mainly occuring when im bored, alone, or getting ready for bed. Am i ok? Is this some stress related issue? Am i tricking myself into thinking something is wrong? I look up a few symptoms to make me feel better and it only makes me think i had a stroke, seizure, brain trauma, etc. i find myself wondering if i will ever be normal again. I’m scared that i will go insane or disconnect myself from society or something crazy like that. Please help.

According to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), K2 or “spice” has the same psychoactive properties as marijuana, which is categorized as a hallucinogenic drug. Psychological effects of “spice” include paranoia, panic attacks and giddiness. Some users report extreme anxiety and hallucinations. Physiologically, those who ingest spice may experience an increased heart rate and an increase in blood pressure. It can also reduce blood flow to the heart and heart attacks have been reported in a few cases. The long-term effects on the body are unknown.

It is important to understand that illicit drug use is never “appropriate.” Many people have negative experiences with drugs. A common experience after using drugs is the development of frightening psychological side effects. The user worries that the drugs have caused permanent damage and they wonder if they will ever return to their pre-drug use, psychological state. In some cases, they don’t and the damage is permanent. Simply put, drugs are dangerous.

I cannot determine if something is “wrong.” If you continue to experience concerning symptoms, then you should be evaluated by a physician or a mental health professional. The health care professional with whom you would meet cannot “turn you in” for having used “spice” in the past. Many states have banned “spice” and have made it a misdemeanor to buy, sell or possess the drug.

Finally, learn a lesson from this experience. The lesson to be learned is that drug use is dangerous and it has the potential to permanently alter your psychological state of being and psychological health. There is no safe drug use. Many people who use drugs are permanently damaged. That may sound dramatic but it is the truth. Please take care.

Dr. Kristina Randle

March 24, 2024 0 comments

Extreme Anxiety

by Dr. Marie Hartwell-Walker May 11, 2022

written by Dr. Marie Hartwell-Walker

For as long as I can remember I have had extreme anxiety issues. I have social anxiety, but the main source of my anxiety is my health. I can’t do anything, and I mean anything without worrying that I am going to die. For example, me and my family went to Disneyland the other day, I was having panic attacks and worrying that I would either just drop dead for no reason or since I had a little bit of a headache that day I was scared was going to have a brain aneurysm. Its always something everyday with my health, it’s exhuasting. All I want to do is sleep all day or just zone out in front of the TV so I dont have to think.

I also have other symptoms, but am not sure if they are part of the anxiety or not they are: feeling like I am in a dream or like a spaced out feeling, weird “what if” thoughts (ex: What if I killed myself or someone else?) and by no means do I want to do this or even have the urge, but since I thought it I get anxiety about it, thinking I am crazy for thinking such things or I am afraid I might sleep walk or something and do it out of my control.

I dont have a job right now and no health insurance, I am just trying to figure out whats going on with me. I am sick of feeling like this. I just want to feel “normal”.

I should mention that I have been on Effexor XR since my daughter was born in 2006, I had Postpartum Depression. I am still taking the Effexor XR, which doesn’t seem to help much anymore, and I am taking 1mg Ativan as needed. I hope you can give me some insight and direction from where to go from here.

Thank you

Thank you for writing. The first thing to do is to go back to the doctor who prescribed the Effexor. The period of time that a postpartum depression generally lasts is long over. If you haven’t been back for a discussion about your symptoms and how you are doing on the medication, you should immediately make an appointment. One of the potential side effects of Effexor is anxiety. What you are taking for depression may possibly be contributing to your anxiety. If your PCP or OB-GYN has been prescribing your medication, I do suggest you see a psychiatrist to get a specialist’s take on whether you still need the medication or if you are taking the right one.

Meanwhile — you really should consider finding some therapy for yourself. Some cognitive-behavioral therapy could help you get your anxiety under more control so that you can enjoy life. I know you have no health insurance. Before you give up on the idea of getting any help, I do suggest that you talk with your doctor or spiritual leader about any free or low-cost resources that may be available in your area. Many private therapists also offer a sliding fee scale or low-income slots.

Please be more concerned about finding treatment and less concerned about finding a label for yourself. As you said, the important thing is to get back to feeling “normal.” You deserve it. Your daughter deserves to have a mom who feels stable and able to cope.

I wish you well.
Dr. Marie

May 11, 2022 0 comments

Could Genes Play A Part In Developing Schizophrenia?

by Kristina Randle, Ph.D., LCSW August 16, 2011

written by Kristina Randle, Ph.D., LCSW

Hello, My great Uncle suffers from schizophrenia, although I’m not sure what type (whether it’s paranoid, catatonic, etc.) It was brought to my attention that I [apparently] display some early symptoms of schizophrenia, though personally I believe it’s not so.

Some of these symptoms included anxiety, lack of motivation, social isolation, “stone faced” or expressionless, inability to differentiate dreams from reality (for things that happened up to 5 years ago), and so on.

Could they be right? Or is it nothing to worry about, just something that comes with age?

No one has determined conclusively that schizophrenia is genetic. There are still many theories about what causes schizophrenia but no one theory has been proven to be the cause. The prevailing theory is that schizophrenia is a brain disease. It is also believed, by many scientists and researchers, that stress and environment can play a major role in the development of schizophrenia.

Research shows that individuals who have relatives with schizophrenia are at an increased risk for developing the disorder. It is important to note that the increased risk is slight. Having a relative with the disease in no way guarantees that other family members will develop it. Again, the risk is slight and its development depends on many factors.

Some of the symptoms you have described are associated with both schizophrenia and schizotypal personality disorder. Anxiety is one such example as is social isolation. Lack of motivation, in the context of schizophrenia, would be considered a negative symptom of the disorder. Negative symptoms are characteristics of an individual’s behavior that should exist but do not.

Schizotypal personality disorder is characterized by a lack of social interaction and extreme anxiety in social situations. Individuals with this disorder tend to keep to themselves. They don’t have many or any close friends. They are very shy and have difficulty interacting with other people. They sometimes believe that they have special or magical powers.

Schizophrenia is similar to schizotypal personality disorder. In fact, it is most closely linked to schizophrenia, when compared to all the other personality disorders. The main difference between schizotypal and schizophrenia is that the individual with the personality disorder, for instance, may believe that other people are talking about them (ideas) versus the individual with schizophrenia who knows it’s true because they remember it happening (delusion).

The inability to express emotions, “stone faced or expressionless” might be considered a symptom called flat affect. Flat affect refers to an individual’s inability to show or to feel appropriate emotions.

You also mentioned having trouble with differentiating dreams from reality. You asked whether that is something that “comes with age?” I am not certain that I fully understand this question, however, it is abnormal to lack the ability to distinguish between dreams and reality. That symptom might be a reference to psychosis. Psychosis is a break with reality. Essentially, it is the belief in thoughts or ideas that are not real.

I cannot determine whether you have either disorder or any disorder. That determination would need to be made by a mental health professional who could evaluate you in person. I would highly recommend having a psychological evaluation. The “find help” tab could assist you in locating a mental health professional in your community. I wish you the best of luck.

Dr. Kristina Randle

August 16, 2011 0 comments

My boyfriend has extreme anxiety

by Daniel J. Tomasulo, PhD, TEP, MFA, MAPP April 30, 2011

written by Daniel J. Tomasulo, PhD, TEP, MFA, MAPP

For starters, I should tell you that we have lived together for the past several years. We’ve always gotten along really well, we don’t have arguments and both appreciate the lack of drama in the other.

For the last several months, he has been wrestling with extreme anxiety. It is at its’ worst when he is at home. He says that as he’s driving home, he can just feel the anxiety rising in him. He says he just feels like he’s going to explode but there’s no reason and nothing to explode about. Being at home just drives him crazy, he says. To quote a text he sent just today “Not sure what but something about home drives me up the wall”. By the end of the evening, his hands are shaking and his heart is racing.

Other symptoms? Complete lack of sex drive. He’s totally capable, he just doesn’t want to. I thought perhaps he was seeing someone else or found someone else he desired but he insists that he just doesn’t have any desire at all.

He is also sleeping a great deal more than he used to. He says he likes going to sleep because then the feeling goes away. I’ve also noticed a decrease in his appetite, I think. That’s hard to gauge because he’s been home so little and because he’s never been one to eat regular meals unless I make them.

I expressed the thought that perhaps the anxiety gets worse on his way home because his mind is clearing, because he’s putting the thoughts of what he has to do next for work away. He doesn’t feel this can be the case because when he was recently working out of town for a week, he had much less anxiety in the evenings.
I’m still convinced (or maybe it’s just hopeful) that because when he’s out of town, he’s sort of always on the job and therefore doesn’t ever let down in quite the same way.

He absolutely, completely and totally refuses to see a doctor. He won’t go see a doctor when he’s feeling close to death’s door … there’s no way I can get him in there for this. Believe me, I’ve tried. I’ve suggested couples counseling and he won’t even talk about that.

So here’s my ultimate question … do you think I could be on the right track? Or is it silly to think that he could repress his anxiety during his workday and thus experience it mostly at home?

There are several reasons why your boyfriend might be feeling his anxiety and depressive symptoms. I certainly can understand your frustration and his reluctance to go for help. But perhaps there is another way to approach this.

This is a self-help quiz for depression. It will give your boyfriend feedback that is objective and generated by his own input. I think you having him read this letter, and encouraging him to take the quiz, may be a way of opening up the dialogue at a deeper level.

If he is unwilling to go to couples counseling with you I would encourage you to go to individual counseling to begin coping with this situation for yourself. When you partner is becoming more isolative the only way to approach this is to offer your thoughts, feelings and suggestions, and then take care of yourself.

Wishing you patience and peace,

Dr. Dan

April 30, 2011 0 comments

Mom May Be Borderline But Refuses Help

by Kristina Randle, Ph.D., LCSW March 10, 2011

written by Kristina Randle, Ph.D., LCSW

I’m looking for a little advice for my mother who may have Borderline Personality Disorder. Long story short, I feel like this is the last straw and I’m starting to lose patience.

Issue: We’ve been bearing with her, but it there doesn’t seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel without professional help. My mother seems to be too proud to accept any type of ‘weakness’ even if it’s a medical illness. She has attempted to take medication in the past but that resulted in suicidal episodes and she became zombie-like at times. There seems to be communication barriers as well.

About her: My mother is an extremely proud woman who is hard on accepting the possibility that she is ever wrong – in fact she is almost always right in her eyes. She is extremely irritable and her temper rises as fast as a moving train. For instance, if my father is late because of work issues, she will throw a tantrum and start to mumble about his irresponsibility. Depending on the situation she will run through a wide range of emotions starting with anger, sadness, depression, and then rise back to anger.

She experiences periods of extreme mania and depression. We believe these swings may be tied to her eating habits and that she is extremely self-conscious of her self-image. Her mood tends to swing in a 1-2 month cycle, after 2 months we can expect an outburst, tantrum, or cry for attention. She has attempted to take her life in the past by ingesting a full bottle of Advil followed by a bottle of wine. At earlier stages she would bring herself to a haze with alcohol, but that has subsided and she now drinks on special occasions.

She has extreme anxiety issues. For example, she will ask if the stove has been turned off a few times before leaving the house, again once we’ve left the house and fear that the stove hasn’t been turned off even after we’ve assured her. The same scenario can be applied to closing garage doors, icy weather conditions, family/friends safety, and a belief of a cheating husband.

She grew up with a bit of verbal abuse in her family and she felt like she could never measure up to the expectations set. She’s always been placed on the side since in older traditional Chinese families, if you’re not a male child, you’re just an outsider. She rarely had a father figure. She’s worked the majority of her childhood and continuously feels like her worth has diminished because she never finished college.

There is so much more, but I can’t seem to put thoughts into words. My father has been attempting to ease every one of her episodes, but I fear that may not be enough. My brother seems to avoid all issues, acknowledges there is a problem, and pretends all is well with the world as long as we don’t stir the hornets nest. I’m not sure if it’s the right thing to do, but I’m seeking any and all advice, help and references I can get.

Thanks in advance for your help.

It is very difficult to watch your loved one suffer and refuse to seek help. It is additionally challenging and understandably frustrating when a loved one’s problems negatively impact the family and everyone suffers as a result. This seems to be the case in your situation.

Undoubtedly you are faced with a very challenging situation. There are no easy solutions. When someone refuses to seek help, then it is the others around them who have to make the adjustments. That may mean limiting your interaction with your mother. If she won’t modify her behavior, then you may need to modify yours. You have to protect yourself. Self-preservation is not a selfish act; it is a necessity. It is important to do your best to help your mother in every way possible but it is also important that you do not let her problems destroy your life.

I have three main recommendations for you. One would be to consider family therapy or individual therapy. Family therapy may be an option if she is willing to go with you to counseling. Even if she isn’t, therapy could teach the family the necessary tools that are needed when caring for a loved one with mental illness. It could also facilitate consistency. Working together as a family may also provide the leverage needed to gently urge your mother into treatment.

There are other possible advantages of family therapy. If the rest of the family is open to counseling, then she may be more willing to go to treatment. If everyone else is willing to make adjustments to their behavior, then she may be open to doing the same. It also sends the message that she isn’t “the problem” and that the family unit as a whole could benefit from a positive intervention.

Individual therapy could teach you how to better and more effectively interact with your mother. The therapist could help you to understand the importance of boundaries and teach you the logistics of how to achieve this important step. In addition, he or she can also help you deal with the psychological and emotional aspects often associated with caring for a mentally ill family member.

The second suggestion involves contacting a local National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) support group. NAMI is an advocacy group that is dedicated to helping individuals with mental illnesses and their family members. They are particularly well-versed in the challenges of having a family member with a mental illness. Most communities across the country have a local NAMI support group. Visit their website for more information.

My third suggestion involves psychoeducation about borderline personality disorder. Pay close attention to educational material designed for the family members of individuals with borderline personality disorder. There are many resources available. One popular resource is The Essential Family Guide to Borderline Personality Disorder: New Tools and Techniques to Stop Walking on Egg Shells by Randi Kreger. You may also want to try the Family Connections program.

I hope these suggestions are helpful. I wish you the best of luck. Please take care.

Dr. Kristina Randle

March 10, 2011 0 comments

Schizotypal Friend?

by Kristina Randle, Ph.D., LCSW July 2, 2010

written by Kristina Randle, Ph.D., LCSW

The other day, there was a girl on the bus talking about her friend, who is in my class. Apparently, she’s acting weird and she imagines she has magical powers. She tries to throw spells on people (she takes herself very seriously), says she can hear people’s thoughts and other stuff like that. She also thinks there’s four witches that’re going to save the world, or something strange like that, and she thinks she’s two of them, since her body is also inhabited by some girl, named Laura, who died a while ago (Laura doesn’t exist by the way). I believe the reason she’s like that is that her parents are never at home and she does all the work there (cooking most of the time, dishes, cleaning, etc.). Her situation is made worse by her other friend, who entirely believes her. He even decided to change school to find the four witches, because God told him to (what I don’t get is that he believes that he’s one of them, that the girl is two of them and that the girl’s friend is one. That makes it four, no?).

I made a bit of research on Internet, and I’m fairly sure she’s schizotypal (though I’m not sure about him, but he’s leaving school so I can’t really help him). Me and another girl, we’d like to help our friend, but I don’t know how we can do that. I’d like to know if there’s a way I can help a schizotypal girl. I would go ask the school’s counsellor, but my friend already went to see her and she’s mad at her because she told her she’d help my friend get rid of her “powers”. Also, I went to see on Internet about how to deal with schizotypal people, but I found no information. Could someone possibly help me?

You believe that your friend is schizotypal but I think you may have meant schizophrenic. Schizotypal personality disorder is characterized by a lack of social interaction and extreme anxiety in social situations. Individuals with this disorder tend to keep to themselves. They don’t have many or any close friends. They are very shy and have difficulty interacting with other people. They do sometimes believe that they have special or magical powers, much like your friend does.

Schizophrenia is similar to schizotypal personality disorder. In fact, it is most closely linked to schizophrenia, when compared to all of the other personality disorders. The main difference between schizotypal and schizophrenia is that the individual with the personality disorder for instance may believe that other people are talking about them (ideas) versus the individual with schizophrenia who knows it’s true because they remember it happening (delusion).

On one hand, it is possible that your friend has schizotypal personality disorder, schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder. On the other hand, it is equally possible that she has none of these disorders. Sometimes people experience problems that do not meet the definition of any mental health disorder. Problems can be fleeting and temporary.

It is very difficult to know exactly what is happening with your friend but she does seem to be experiencing troublesome symptoms. You recognize this and I believe you are correct to be concerned.

Your question is: what can you do to help your friend? Your options are limited but there are several things you can do. You should support and encourage her to seek help. You can suggest this to her but it would be best if adults handled the situation. You mentioned that one of your friends has already attempted to speak to the school guidance counselor and it did not go well. I’m not sure that I understand why she had that result. I would encourage you to also speak to the guidance counselor about this problem. You may have a different result than your friend. If you are unable to receive help from the guidance counselor then you should speak to a trusted teacher, the school nurse or the principal. Another option is to speak to your parents about this issue and ask for their guidance. They may be able to speak to the guidance counselor or other school officials on your behalf.

Your friend is very fortunate that you care about her well-being. You not only noticed a potential problem, you also took the time to research it and are now in the process of trying to find her help. You have gone out of your way to be of assistance to her. You should be commended for your care and concern.

I hope your friend is able to receive the proper help. Thanks for your question. Please take care.

July 2, 2010 0 comments