re: How many here have actually been to a psychiatrist?

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Is this what causes me to go blackout mode/dizzy/sweaty palms on those high beltway 8 flyovers or other tall bridges?

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That's what happened to me.

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How many here have actually been to a psychiatrist?

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The wording is wrong. I haven't been to a psychiatrist.




























I've been to 4.

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I can remember having some seriously twisted dreams about tall bridges when I was a kid, too.

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I dreamed there was a 9.0 earthquake the 2nd night I was in SF bay area.,
It happened in the dream while I was driving on the Richmond to San Rafael Bridge which is odd shaped and featured in first scene in 48 hrs with Murphy and a beefy white cop.

sooo years go by and I am ON the San Mateo Creek bridge (interstate 1/2 mile from San Andreas fault) the guy on the radio says OH OH, there goes an aftershock earthquake and I am ON the bridge 5 minutes after the 7., something that interupted game one of the World Series in SF Bay between Giant and A's., could barely breathe until I got over it

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Have you become a parent in the last few years? I had a naturopath tell me one time that as people become parents,especially males with our natural tendency to want to protect our offspring it can cause kind of an increased baseline of excitatory hormone levels and a decrease in inhibitory feel good ones.

I had gotten really worked up over some labs that ended up being pretty off and a faulty ekg. Got really anxious for a few weeks but then still felt jittery for a long time after despite mentally being fine.

Put me on B2, magnesium, and this mixture called mental calm by rainbow lite a pretty legit vitamin company. I'm about as skeptical of alternative medicine as many are but it worked amazingly in helping my body chill the frick out afterwards.

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I second this advice.

that sucks, man. Severe anxiety is a bitch and people that don't wrestle with it have no idea just how debilitating it can be. I wouldn't wish it on my enemies.

I took different ssri's over the years but they took away the highs and the lows, so i got off and started meditating and working on breathing techniques, reserving xanax for those 'oh shite' moments i couldn't do anything about.

all of this culminated 2 years ago when i had an anxiety attack that progressed into an actual heart attack (LAD). at 31 years old.

since then, i still get anxious, but its amazing how almost dying allows you to let go of things you think matter, but really don't.

in any even, good luck man. you're far from alone fighting this

I've seen one.

A lot more people that aren't seeing one should be.

I have been helped by seeing a psychiatrist. No shame in that.
Asking for help is a courageous first step. Medication should be used under a physician's care.

The greatest delusion in life is believing that there is no hope. There is hope !!! Anxiety and depression can cause you to lose hope in life but asking for help is your lifeline to freedom.

Dealt with anxiety since childhood and dysthymia almost as long. Had a major bout of depression in my mid to late 20s that was awful. Have self medicated off an on with alcohol since. Not an alcoholic by any means but I do drink alone from time to time which I know is a bad habit to fall into and comes with its own issues. Biggest problem is a complete inability to slow my racing mind while simultaneously dealing with a very low energy level. I suspect undiagnosed adhd but I'm finding getting tested takes a while and is expensive. Tried Adderall a couple times in the past and it helped dramatically with energy and focus. Strangely enough it actually eased my anxiety despite being a stimulant. Wasn't expecting that positive side effect from it but it helped calm me and give me a sense of well being.

To the OP, if you're anxiety is magnified by possible undiagnosed adhd or you have racing thoughts and can't focus well, it may be something that can help. A doctor would obviously needs to make that determination though.

Not for treatment. Once for a screening, which was mostly done on paper.