Posts by casualwalker5

hollowmoose10 said:My advice? Get moving on this right now. Go see your doctor and start tackling it head-on. You’re not in immediate danger and nothing catastrophic is going to happen, but why suffer through it needlessly? Another big reason to jump on this quickly is to prevent things from spiraling into something much more serious.
And don't forget, you've totally got this. It might feel pretty intimidating right now, but you'll figure it out.
Fingers crossed for you! 🙂

Thanks for sharing what you went through and for the kind words. The catch is that because of my job, I can't be using any ADHD meds. I'm not even sure if there are any good natural alternatives out there. I dealt with similar stuff back in 2013 and managed to kick it all without medication or professional help... but this current stretch of stress has brought everything back, maybe even harder than before.
Thanks for sharing what you went through and for the kind words... The thing is, because of my job, I'm not allowed to take any meds, and I have no idea if there's even a natural substitute out there... I dealt with similar issues way back in 2013 and managed to shake them off on my own without drugs or professional help... But this current stressful stretch has brought everything rushing back, maybe even harder than before...

Don't mention it.
Antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds aren't even the same thing. Sure, there are herbal alternatives, but if you're barred from using chemicals, I'm not even sure if those would be okay for you either...
But I am certain there are options besides medication; for me, CBT—Cognitive Behavioral Therapy—was recommended a long time ago. There are plenty of types out there, and there are even options that didn't exist before, like doing it online via Skype and all that stuff. I can't give a specific recommendation because I haven't really looked into what's available these days, let alone tried it myself. That CBT approach sounded really appealing to me back then because it's relatively quick, like a few weeks... it's not like traditional psychotherapy where you're stuck in it for years...
Of course, all of this is private and costs money... because if you try to rely on the public health system, you won't get seen until you're retired.
for example...
https://exedra.online/hr/terapeuti/
I'm not entirely sure if posting this is allowed under the forum rules, so if not, some mod can just delete it.

Anyway, if I can give you one bit of direction or a piece of advice, it’s this:
don't try to go through this alone. It is so much easier when you have someone in your corner. And if you can't go to a doctor, then lean on a friend, your mom, a priest... just someone.

Victorin's last sentence makes a ton of sense and is spot on.

hollowmoose10 said:Can stress actually spike your blood pressure? I'm going through a pretty rough patch emotionally right now...
my symptoms look like this: racing heart, high blood pressure, restlessness, constant worrying—I find myself spiraling into a Google search for symptoms the second I feel off. Then there's the chest tightness, shaky hands, dry mouth, that feeling like my throat is closing up, a constant stream of negative thoughts, and this nagging fear that something terrible is about to happen. Basically, full-on panic attacks. I dealt with anxiety issues in the past and thought I had them under control, or at least tucked away, but this current slump has dragged everything back to the surface..

Listen, every single thing you just listed is a textbook symptom of anxiety. And look, I'm writing this as someone who isn't a doctor, but as someone who has lived through this hell firsthand. I went through exactly what you're describing. I had a massive episode back in 2006/2007, and then it came crawling back in a milder form this past spring and summer. And man, I was so damn sure I’d never have to deal with it again.
The breaking point for me was when I ended up at the emergency room at the local hospital, insisting I couldn't breathe. The guy there actually took me seriously at first and started the exam. At one point, he told me to stick my tongue out, used a piece of gauze, and looked down my throat with a little mirror. Of course, everything looked perfectly fine, and the doctor just gave me this look of pure disgust—like, "Oh, so you're fine then"—and said something like, "There's nothing wrong with you." I will never forget that look, because I felt like I was literally suffocating from nothing!
....he prescribed me some heavy-duty stuff, basically enough to knock me sideways, and I almost passed out right at my desk in front of customers because the dose was so intense. That was my wake-up call; I realized I had to approach this a completely different way.
First, I ruled out anything physical. I did a full workup, including an ultrasound of my neck and thyroid, plus all the hormone tests. Once those results came back perfect, I made a vow to myself: no more Googling.
I asked my doctor for a referral to a psychiatrist, went through the testing, and finally got the diagnosis: an anxiety episode. Since the waitlist for a therapist was ridiculously long, the symptoms actually started settling down on their own. My life was getting complicated anyway with a new job and caring for a sick family member, so things slowly faded until they were gone. I didn't even end up seeing a therapist in the end.

My advice? Get moving on this right now. Go see your primary care doctor and start tackling this head-on. You aren't in physical danger, and nothing catastrophic is going to happen to your body, but you shouldn't have to suffer like this. The other reason to act fast is so this doesn't spiral into a much deeper disorder.
And don't forget, you can handle this. Even if it feels absolutely terrifying right now, you're going to get through it.
Fingers crossed for you 🙂

I need to find a dermatologist in Chicago for my daughter. She’s got these two growths in her hair that her doctor dismissed as just pigment-free moles, but we’ve actually noticed them getting bigger. It was an absolute nightmare just trying to get a referral from her insurance.
I don't mind paying a bit out of pocket, but I am definitely not dealing with those insane, daylight-robbery prices you see at those private clinics.