spectralshift comments on Open Thread, Jun. 8 - Jun. 14, 2015 - Less Wrong Discussion
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Full disclosure here regarding personal issues. I'm looking for advice on how to resolve them to the point where they no longer affect my life majorly. I don't expect an issue this ingrained into my psyche to ever be gotten rid of entirely. I'm sure there are other places more directly related to the subject that I could request this advice, but LWers have usually seemed to have something useful to add to things.
Recently (toward the end of 2013), I slowed, and then stopped taking Zoloft for what was purported to be emotional instability, since I was about 7 until then, when I was 21. I do not regret doing this in the slightest, as, quite frankly, while on it I was extremely flatlined emotionally and had not grown hardly at all in that regard for years. Everything was quite dull.
I have, since then, had to resort to various techniques to calm myself, as getting off of Zoloft also revealed myself to be rather anxious, and to have had latent abandonment issues resulting in clinginess to my close friends. It is the latter part that I need help with, as most literature that I've found has been rather worthless in truly actionable things, as they suggest broad things to be done and little in regards to intermediary steps, or speak to the effects, consequences, and actions that should be taken when in a romantic relationship (which I am not).
Regarding how it feels when I have an episode (for the purpose of relating to it for other people with perhaps-similar issues), I want to curl up in the corner, I get panicky, and it feels like lightning's shooting through me as a cold, heavy lump forms in my belly.
Thanks for any help you can offer.
I'll repeat the same advice I got when I approached my doctor friends about anxiety.
Look for a clinical psychologist (language issue: I'm Canadian, not positive it is identical in the states) that has experience/specializes in anxiety issues. This was recommended after I'd done a physical - basic blood work and such - but it doesn't sound like you have anything that would be related to physical issues.
The general feel I got was that it takes a bit of work to tailor a solution to your specific situation/triggers and doing it yourself, with your own biases (which are likely to be severe in the area of your anxiety) getting in the way of any kind of self-diagnosis or self-help. Your anxiety attack, if that is what it is, sounds severe enough to seek help.