Mental Health Possible anxiety?

[cert]

I've been to my doctor before and he always gives me some prescription that never helps, and most pills don't do much for me.

Throughout the day I always am doing something whether it's counting how many light poles I see while driving, moving my teeth left right left right, shaking my leg or clenching my jaw left right left right. It always has to be in more of a pattern then at random. My mind is also always racing which leads also doesn't help the insomnia I have.

Can anyone relate or know what this might be?

 

[RobotRipping]

that sounds like OCD which is an anxiety disorder.

insomnia and anxiety also go together quite often. Have you tried cognitive behavioral therapy? seems pretty effective for OCD at least. A Dr. will likely just throw you on shit loads of different meds to see if any work at all, most will have terrible side effects, paxil comes to mind. I'd give therapy a shot. If you can get to the root of why you have anxiety then you can have some control over these obsessive behaviors, it is almost always the case that these things are rooted in anxiety.

 

[Cornishman]

Haha, I used to count light poles too.

Sounds like OCD.

 

[herbavore]

Everyone but me in my immediate family has OCD. My husband has to check locked doors a certain number of times, eat foods in a certain order and has tons of little routines that all have to be done in the same sequence or he is thrown off balance emotionally. My late son probably had it the most. We have always just chuckled about it because it doesn't impact their lives in any significant way, but it can be severe for some people. I had a student that did the compulsive hand-washing and that was hard on her--she would wash until her skin was raw and still could not stop. If it is nothing like that, that you feel enslaved by and that causes you discomfort or adversely affects your health, I would not worry about it.

Mindfulness is one of the best things for any kind of anxiety and it can be a particularly helpful practice for insomnia. When your mind is racing, try constantly bringing your awareness back to your breath. With practice this can be life changing.

 

[keeponkeepnon]

In harmony with the previous posters it for certain sounds like OCD or perhaps PTSD if there has been some major trauma we are unaware of. PTSD can manifest in very similar ways as OCD.

CBT is def the way to go. Look for someone who specializes in OCD. http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/prof_search.php Fantastic resource.

That said I have awful OCD. Get your magnesium levels up. Also one thing that has a true scientific basis for it's effectiveness is Inositol powder at 12-18 grams per day. I can attest to it's effectiveness it has a unique function on a circuit in the brain I cannot remember the circuit but the research indicates. Dopamine D2 receptors are hyperactive in this area of the brain and serotonin synapses cannot make up for it. The inositol works very much like Luvox one of the most effective SSRI's for OCD except that instead of blanketing the brain in serotonin the inositol has been shown to work specifically on the aforementioned circuit through causing upregulation of D2 receptors while conversely causing downregulation of Serotonin receptors.

That said it works it works well and has seemingly zero negative side effects. It's expensive in GNC in fact it's an incredible rip off. If you can find jarrows brand in a natural foods and or a Vitamin Shoppe you're much better or by ordering off amazon/iherb. Wish ya luck bud I know OCD tendencies can really become infuriating and debilitating.

I also have a bunch of other suggestions that aren't pharmaceutical and am happy to share but didn't want to overload you. -Be Well.