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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Lisa2712 on September 18, 2009, at 23:13:38
When I'm eating in a restaurant with my family I have trouble just eating and focusing on our conversation like everyone else can, and I have to keep looking around me at the other people around me in the restaurant. Also when I'm writing something in public, or in a car, I have to keep looking up and around every 30 seconds or so at the people in the cars around me. Is this anxiety or a lack of attention? I'd like to go to a restaurant and eat and enjoy it like everyone else does.
Posted by yxibow on September 18, 2009, at 23:29:23
In reply to Is this anxiety or something else?, posted by Lisa2712 on September 18, 2009, at 23:13:38
> When I'm eating in a restaurant with my family I have trouble just eating and focusing on our conversation like everyone else can, and I have to keep looking around me at the other people around me in the restaurant. Also when I'm writing something in public, or in a car, I have to keep looking up and around every 30 seconds or so at the people in the cars around me. Is this anxiety or a lack of attention? I'd like to go to a restaurant and eat and enjoy it like everyone else does.
It sounds either like a type of OCD and/or panic/social phobia, or maybe both countering each other.An SSRI and/or CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) might work
-- tidings
Posted by Phillipa on September 19, 2009, at 0:16:42
In reply to Re: Is this anxiety or something else? » Lisa2712, posted by yxibow on September 18, 2009, at 23:29:23
I have similar problems but don't look around. I'd say anxiety. Personally the ad's do nothing for me only benzos ever worked but they are saying lyrica does also work. Phillipa
Posted by 10derHeart on September 19, 2009, at 2:23:23
In reply to Is this anxiety or something else?, posted by Lisa2712 on September 18, 2009, at 23:13:38
Hi Lisa,
Do you notice yourself thinking anything in particular when you need to look up while eating or writing? Thinking different things each time? Thinking "nothing," but just feeling "wound up" or fearful?
These are just the sort of questions I ask myself when I do things repeatedly I doubt others are doing, or can't figure out what I am experiencing.
Sometimes it helps me get at the root feelings, or differentiate between an ADD-thing (I have inattentive-type ADD) and anxiety, or plain old appropriate worry....
Posted by jms600 on September 19, 2009, at 8:28:13
In reply to Re: Is this anxiety or something else? » Lisa2712, posted by 10derHeart on September 19, 2009, at 2:23:23
I agree with yxibow - sounds like anxiety based disorder/OCD. The best SSRI in my opinion for anxiety is Seroxat - if you can tolerate the side effects. I for one couldn't.
You could also try Clomipramine - again side effects may be a little troublesome.
Posted by Lisa2712 on September 19, 2009, at 10:43:40
In reply to Re: Is this anxiety or something else?, posted by jms600 on September 19, 2009, at 8:28:13
I forgot to mention- I've been taking 15 mg Lexapro for 1 year (20 mg was too activating for me) and I've been on .5 mg clonazepam 2 times a day for 5 weeks and my doctor just upped it to .75 mg twice daily, which does help a little with the looking around everywhere in public, but I still have it.
And I know I do have severe social anxiety problems but sometimes I think I also have ADHD (which I've never been diagnosed or treated for, because the MD's I've seen have told me I didn't have it and all my ADD type symptoms were caused by my anxiety).One reason I look up at them is to see if I'm causing a negative reaction in them by their body language, like I think I make everyone around me (who can see me) nervous because I'm so nervous in public places and barely holding myself together (but the clonazepam is helping with this), and I look around to see their body language. They all look fine and are enjoying their meal and conversation, but I still keep looking around at people anyways.
Posted by desolationrower on September 20, 2009, at 0:23:25
In reply to Re: Is this anxiety or something else?, posted by Lisa2712 on September 19, 2009, at 10:43:40
maybe this sounds like what you experience, or maybe it works as a contrast:
i *think* my problem is like taht, but more of an attentional problem. i just am terribly bored when people are talkign, and look around because i wish i was doing something else more interesting. i'm not really looking for their reactions, i can mostly guess what people are doing by briefly 'droppign in' every 10 seconds or so. anxiety is when i project onto other the restlessness and 'wish i wasn't here' i feel.
-d/r
Posted by Lisa2712 on September 21, 2009, at 14:49:54
In reply to Re: Is this anxiety or something else?, posted by desolationrower on September 20, 2009, at 0:23:25
Yes, I'm sort of like that, where my mind's going 100 mph in public and I can't concentrate for very long on the conversation my family's having at the table because I'm too nervous and I'm innattentive, then I start looking around at other people in the restaurant. I think I have a lot of attention problems and I'm fidgety.
This is the end of the thread.
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