Posted by sowhysosad on April 21, 2009, at 3:33:23
In reply to Re: PERMANENT DAMAGE » mattdds, posted by yxibow on April 21, 2009, at 3:02:15
Yeah, there's definitely a BIG psychogenic component with mine Jay - the symptoms get better with hypnotherapy.
I had fairly mild physical symptoms for around 3 years from Cipralex (Lexapro), but they got much worse when I had had akathisia on Zoloft then spiralled into a deep rebound depression.
It's become something of an obsession since then as it's very socially disabling and is preventing me from working. My theory is that low serotonin is fuelling repetitive thoughts and rumination about the issue - almost to an "OCD-like" level - and this is making the manifestation of the symptoms worse.
I don't think it's conversion disorder as such (although it IS similar to a psychogenic dystonia which is associated with CD), as I've not had any MAJOR life traumas that would trigger it.
Going off at a tangent, I've been taking 60mg of codeine every night for a few days as an antidepressant (yeah, not ideal I know but I'm in a "med-free" period and it works!) and it's caused a sudden and dramatic improvement in the movement disorder.
It's gotta be the associated dopamine release that's doing it, which ties in with my original theory that the PHYSICAL aspect of the condition was caused by dopamine depletion. It makes a lot of sense - Lex & Celexa are the most selective SSRI's for serotonin so have a high risk for dopamine depletion, and my neuro says he sees the most SSRI-related facial dystonias from those two meds. Also, SSRI akathisia is caused by a huge hike in serotonin and a corresponding big drop in dopamine. It all fits.
I also wonder whether this "hyper-awareness" of the facial region and abnormal movements that Sam and I are experiencing are a type of region-specific akathisia? Kinda like RLS of the face! I do find myself obsessively using my jaw by chewing on lips and fingers and sometimes feel an urge to move it for no apparent reason.
> I believe there could be an organic component to it but I also believe that there is a good chance that it may not be everlasting.
>
> I think that there is some validity that it is in the OC Spectrum range of conditions, and that its not something to be taken personally, even though it sounds that way.
>
> It also sounds sort of akin almost to a somatoform or conversion disorder where anxiety is causing a physical sensation.
>
> Combined with some form of OC, this accelerates the worry over what is a -very- real sensation but is not necessarily organic, or has a low component of one.
poster:sowhysosad
thread:891840
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090416/msgs/891891.html