Mental Health Sensitivity really getting me down.

[Hear Me Roar]

End of last year after experiencing de-realisation at the tale end of a Panic attack, I became overly sensitive to things I put in my body.

We're talking everything but water.

If I ate a larger meal, I'd have a panic attack.
If I consumed sugar... panic attack.
I could no longer take medications, because the thought of how they'd react to my body would increase my anxiety ten fold.

Essentially it was less how my body reacted but how I psychological thought it would. I was winding myself into a frenzy. I don't experience social anxiety, I'm not an anxious person. I only get anxiety brought on by sensitivity to what I consume.

Around 8 months on, I've got over the majority of my anxiety. I can now ingest sugar to no end, take basic pain meds and for the most part I'm fine.

I still haven't gone anywhere near caffiene, haven't touched any drugs or alcohol(as much as I'd love to)

Main problem I'm having at the moment, is with my sleeping meds. I've always had real bad insomnia, which fluctuates from night to night. Every few months the GP will prescribe me 15mg Zopiclone for a week period. As kind of rest bite. Since becoming sensitive to everything I hadn't requested any. Though past few days, I have been going through a lot of stress and had hardly slept a wink, so got a prescription for some.

Problem I'm having, is it's been a nightmare to take.

Last night, I only took 7.5mg as I just couldn't bring myself to take the full dose(I have a high tolerance to medications hence the 15mg). An for the time it took to kick In, I was laid there terrified. Waves of panic consumed me... it was bloody awful. I know full well nothing bad will happen, I know once the zopiclone kicks in, my anxiety will float away and I'll eventually nod off. It's just the time leading upto it, that I'm in pure hell. I mean as soon as I took the tablet, the thought entered my mind, should I make myself be sick. Nightmare.

Has anyone suffered with anything similar and have any tips of tricks?

 

[herbavore]

I haven't had the direct experience but have a friend who developed debilitating anxiety over anything perceived as toxic. When I say debilitating that meant that she could not handle clothing that had hung on plastic hangers or eat food that had touched plastic in any way. She found a good psychiatrist (by good I mean one that actually listened and worked with her psychologically rather than throwing meds at her). Her diagnosis was OCD. What she did to heal has been a very delicate process over about 3 years of using various methods that work to change anxious thoughts (mostly cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness). I think if you can find some help like that you will really benefit. Part of my friend's healing came from accepting that her fears were not completely unfounded, just unreasonably exaggerated. In your case, not wanting to put harmful substances in your body has a kernel of reason but gets exaggerated into the realms of compulsion. Staying away from drugs and eating less sugar is not a bad thing after all.

 

[MilzyWilzy]

I'm sorry that you're going through a hard time at the moment. I think you need to probably see a therapist/councillor to try and help you through this. They will work with you intensely to try and help you live with your mental health issues. I would suggest that taking Zopiclone is a bad move, it may be aggravating your mental health even further. I was prescribed Zopiclone and they turned me into an agressive and anxious wreck. Natural alternatives to make you sleep may be worth looking into, camomile tea, milk, relaxing bath etc. I hope you find a way to be happy in life, good luck and stay safe.