PAGE INTRO: More public education is needed in regard to emotional and mental disorders. Many people do not know the differences between anxiety and depression and others do not know the difference between neurosis and psychosis. People also suffer more serious mental illnesses including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia in addition to the more common emotional disorders of anxiety and depression. The treatments used to help with these disorders include anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications and different types of therapies including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Stress Management. Anxiety sufferers for example can learn through CBT not to fear this necessary emotion so that unpleasant symptoms diminish and anxiety becomes a positive force in their lives rather than a negative one. -Jim Lowrance-
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Sharon USA-Female
Anxiety & Depression from Thyroid Disease
Dear Jan and Jim,
I was just browsing and came across your article on thyroid and depression. I just wanted to let you know that it has given me some hope with my thyroid problem which went undiagnosed for the past 8 years despite constant symptoms. When I came across your article it was like I had written it myself as I identified with so many of your points.
I believe my Hashimoto’s began back in 2000 when I developed a sudden and severe illness whilst traveling in Asia. This illness I now believe to have been an acute adrenal crisis although my doctor is skeptical as this often causes death without treatment. However I was on a remote island at the time and just sat it out for 3 days. During this time I had crippling symptoms, shakes, sweats amongst others. Those 3 days left me at 7 kilograms lighter and with a severe rash on my neck which I have to this day.
However since that initial illness I’ve had periods of being unable to swallow for weeks at a time having to eat soups. I've lost about 18kgs since 2000, severe fearful attacks for no reason where I would feel my pulse shoot up and then slow down in minutes to extremely slow levels, severe fatigue which has seen me spend a month at a time in bed and having to go to the bathroom on my hands and knees, extreme sweats and shakes, headaches to name but a few.
During these past 8 years I have been continually told that I was depressed, placed on antidepressants which made me much worse. Finally I was at my lowest ebb and demanded to see a psychiatrist, which my doctor fought against referring me. Within 5 minutes of seeing her, she told me she was sure I had a thyroid problem and to go back to my GP. By this point I changed GPs and haven’t looked back. I have been on thyroxin since my thyroid-TSH came back with high levels (100) at one point.
I have been on thyroxin for 8 months now and have been referred to an endocrinologist and waiting for further tests. Although I feel 80 % better I still have sudden attacks where I feel extremely fearful. Just wanted to write and let you know that I completely understand what you’ve been/ are going through. Although my depression lifted immediately with the thyroxin, I’m trying to find out why this has happened and how I can help myself as I do believe the initial illness and thyroid problems are a result of some emotional problems or insecurity which I guess I have ignored somehow. I hope you are well on the road to recovery.
Jim Lowrance Article>> Some Quick Facts about Asthma
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F.D. Male-WS
First Experiences with Panic Attacks
One night during a phone call from a friend, I had a panic attack that came out of nowhere. I was talking to him and started to get out of breath and then my head starting spinning and I heard a high pitch ringing in my ears. I wasn’t upset about anything but was a little impatient with wanting the phone call to be over because I had a lot of paperwork to do that I had to turn in at the company I work for each end of the month. My friend lingered on this particular call and kept repeating things over and over and I think that’s what started the uncomfortable feeling that ended up being my first true panic attack. It almost seemed as if this experience sort of taught me how to have a panic attack, kind of like it trained my brain into causing them at times after that first one. I would get these at times I felt impatient with someone or a situation, as these things were holding me back from more important things I should be doing at the time. If I was in a grocery check out line and the checker was slow, I could feel a panic attack creeping up on me. If I was at a doctor office and it took a long time for me to be called into the examination room, I would start having a panic attack. I was in fact seeing my doctor to get help with this when one happened in the waiting room. He knew what it was even before I fully described what was happening to me. He started me on an antidepressant and prescribed me pills to take when I had an extra amount of anxiety as well. The ones for extra anxiety were only a months worth but the antidepressant I take every day and have been on that one for over four years. It has helped to a large degree but I still have milder panic attacks when I’m extra impatient with something. I’m glad to get the help and have also been reading the Jim Lowrance articles on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy which have been helping a great deal.
Jim Lowrance ARTICLE>> Natural Supplements for Autoimmune Hypothyroidism?...
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My Response/Question- “Anxiety Disorder VS True Psychosis”
Anxiety is in the neurosis category and unless you've specifically been diagnosed with psychosis, the unreality symptoms (anxiety depersonalization & derealization) don't indicate having psychosis. I had a nephew diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was actually experiencing severe anxiety. The same is true of an aunt of mine whom was told she had paranoid schizophrenia, when she actually had major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder. Neither of the two had actual delusions or hallucinations which are characteristic and actually required for a diagnosis of psychosis to be given. Derealization and Depersonalization are extremely unpleasant but are not psychosis, in fact they are triggered by the "fight or flight response" and is the minds way of putting self and surroundings into the background so that the mind can scan for dangers. "Catastrophic thinking" can also be a part of this, such as believing you will do something terrible (usually fear of snapping and being violent) or make a fool of yourself, pass out etc.... but this too is not a symptom of psychosis. It is also part of the fight or flight response which makes your mind, consider all possible dangers. With anxiety disorders, there are no true/real dangers but the mind convinces itself there are, hence it prepares the body for dangers with surges of adrenaline.
The most effective method in my opinion in overcoming those unreality anxiety symptoms, is learning not to fear them. I realize this is easier-said-than-done but is very effective when you work on it and see progress. You also have to accept small gains rather than impatiently wanting complete victory in a short amount of time because small gains add up to big ones over time.
Learning not to fear anxiety symptoms is an aspect of Cognitive Behavioral therapy (CBT) and has been found very effective for decades as therapy for anxiety. I have an audio-download at Amazon that I highly recommend to you. It is full-length but only priced at .99cents. It plays on your computer via a link they provide once you place an order for it. I address the unreality symptoms in it as well and think it might be a booster for you (I hope it's very helpful). I put my best knowledge into it, for overcoming anxiety.
Here's the link to it,
click here>> http://www.amazon.com/Chronic-Anxiety-a-Complete-Look/dp/B001EDJ4FE
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My Response/Question- “Anxiety Unreality Symptoms”
It's absolutely a fact that knowing unreality symptoms and catastrophic thinking are common and not harmful in itself is liberating. Strangely, people who see emotional/mental health professionals aren't always given the knowledge they need as soon as they need it. Learning not to fear anxiety symptoms is an aspect of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and extremely effective but is sometimes neglected by psycho-therapists who instead feel they have to delve deeply into a person's psyche before they can offer this type knowledge.
Difficulty concentrating, finishing sentences and fuzzy thinking does indeed have a name "brain fog" and is very common in anxiety sufferers and is something I too have experienced. I in fact had this symptom very frequent before learning to better cope with anxiety, which caused the symptom to fade near-completely (still have it in mild to moderate phases). Headaches can be related to anxiety as well because both are neurologically associated (nerve signals).
When you get a physical to be evaluated for possible medical causes of anxiety, have your doctor order some blood work, to rule out things like diabetes (glucose level), blood abnormalities (complete blood count) and hormone imbalances (thyroid, sex and maybe adrenal). None of the tests are very expensive and it will rule out any health condition that might be contributing to anxiety symptoms and offer you peace of mind if all is normal. It's actually a precaution because most anxiety does not have an underlying medical cause. In my case, when my anxiety flared on me at age 40, I was tested and found to have a thyroid condition for which I now take medication. It also doesn't hurt to have a doctor listen carefully to your heart to rule out a common anxiety producing heart murmur called Mitral Valve Prolapse. Some people might think the ruling out of medical problems is an overboard step but it's not when you've suffered for years and just making sure you cover every base for yourself.
My related article>> Can Acid Reflux Disease Trigger Development of Ast...
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See>> Anxiety & Depression Page 2
