can anxiety anbd depression really do that?

[davemac5252]

for the past 16 months ive had severe anxiety annd really depressed over a sexual encounter 16 months ago.  I have tested negative on every test way beyond all window periods and i cant accept that i dont have HIV, or the just the fear of it. i have a hard time believing that stress/anxiety/depression can take such a hold of your body and this is why i acnt let these fears go. i was only medicated for a week on effexor but it also happened to be the week i turned 21 so i drank my face off and now i have been diagnosed with oral thrush. can anxeity stress and depression cause mouth problems? not a minute goes by during the day that i dont think about all of this and after 16 months im going crazy. please help im getting desperate.

[sdp4314]

Oral thrush is just an imbalance of good/bad bacteria....a yeast infection.  Since you drank so much that probably created the ideal surroundings for yeast to grow since it is in beer and other alcoholic beverages.  To prevent this in the future, eat yogurt with live active cultures or take probiotics.  

Anxiety and stress can take a major toll on your immune system.  Try to remain calm, thrush can happen to anyone.  You mention an encounter 16 months ago, but it's doubtful that this is related to that incident.

[imcrazy2]

Have you been treated for PTSD???  That's what it sounds like, and yes, it can and does consume your life.

[davemac5252]

i havent been treated for anything, im in the process of being hired as a police officer and cant let them know im nuts.  i was tested at 2,3,5,7,9,10,11,12,and 16 months for all STD's after the one time thing and all were negative. Everyone says im fine in that regard but im not a doctor i dont know about window periods and all that good stuff. Is there anyway to self treat this disorder? thanks for all the help it feels alot better when you can get things out.

[anacyde]

If you had that many negative tests, it's time to relax.

I think it would be really helpful for you to see someone about the level of stress and anxiety you're dealing with...that's a lot to try and handle on your own.

[ekypoo]

Yes, anxiety can and does do that.  First, you do not have HIV.  If you tested negative that far after potential exposure, then you are fine. Second, it seems like you have a tremendous amount of guilt over the experience, maybe seeing a therapist will benefit you.  I have a feeling that your guilt over this episode is manifesting itself as an irrational fear of HIV.  Therapy can work wonders, particularly in conjunction with the right medication.  I sympathize with you, both anxiety and/or depression can take over your life.  Anxious/Depressed people are far more likely to suffer infections, illnesses, delayed wound healing, etc.  Your body is reacting to your mind.

[anxiousmomtobe?]

And you definitely need to get your stress under control before you become a cop.....probably one of the most stressful jobs inthe world.

[ryn21]

You need to relax.  Reading your story was almost like reading my own.  I went through the same thing.  I suffered the same way, went to a psychologist, took anxiety meds, ect.  Suffered from a mild form of hypochondria.  Give it up man.  Symptoms mean nothing!  Your tests prove you are fine.  Relax now and enjoy life!  We all go through the test of god, you passed, you learned from your experience. Move on.

[davemac5252]

how long did it take for you to get over your episode?? i really want to get over it but for some reason i have this stigma in my head about waiting till the 2 year mark to let it go. thanks for all of the comments, it helps.

[Honeybee4u2c]

You do sound like this is really troubling you to a degree that requires professional help.  I think everyone has at least one sexual encounter that they regret to a great degree immediately afterwards and maybe for a time longer.

You might want to do relaxation techniques like what has been suggested.  Essential oils help more than you can imagine.  Do some homework on them.  It's a mind-body type thing.

If you are going to become a police officer and that is your dream, wouldn't you want to conduct yourself in the most positive way possible?  We depend on that from you as our protectors in society.  If you are having emotional problems that can be cured then you should make all attempts to heal before you become one of our hero's.  It's a big responsibility to become a cop and I for one want you healed.  Don't be so hard on yourself, we all do things, you're not a bad person, you're normal.  If I told you all the stuff I've done in my life you may realize that it's not as bad as you have made yourself believe.  Besides you passed all the test and I do believe that it's only a 6 month distance from the time of the encounter to the safe zone.  Get some lavendula officinalis at the health food store and use it.  Look it up to see the medicinal qualities it holds and you might even try some other oils that give you a good sense of self and a lighter attitude on life.  It really works, it isn't going to hurt you to try it...is it?  Good luck and God bless.

[scrguy6]

Lately I've been going through the same thing as you Dave.  I also had an STD scare and I had all the signs and symptoms of one, but after I got tested and they were negative, I still wasn't completely reassured.  Lately I've been better with that, however, I think I may have developed something else through all of the stress and anxiety.  I have severe muscle weakness and fatigue in my left arm, it also is a little bit numb.  I think it could be MS or ALS, but I don't know for sure.  I'm extremely scared about the whole thing.  Can you help me at all?

[davemac5252]

same boat as you man , it helps to talk about it and reassure someone that the testing now a days is so accurate it would pick it up by now, i know its hard to believe that stress and anxiety can cause all this stuff, i still have a hard time believing it but you have got to trust the tests and get out of your head as do i. it doesnt matter how many negative tests we get, they dont help relieve this, i thought that at the 6 month mark i cold let it go....didnt happen, then i thought at 12 months i could let it go....didnt happen, and the same at 14 and 16 months. ive been trying to stay busy with work and going to the gym and that seems to help big time, try that and im gonna go to a shrink soon . hope this helps feel free to emial me ***@****

[ke11yann]

i am soo afraid. i love my father so much and would do anything for him. i really think he is killing himself through stress and depression though. lately he has been talking about losing power in his arm and his hands being numb... and losing power in his leg. now he gets a suggestion from the doctor that it might be ALS. since i am being honest here.. i have dealt with a lot of **** in my life. i have turners sydrome and have dealt with the fact that i can normally never have kids.. my cousin has down syndrome.. and my uncle use to go out with a woman who had an autistic kid.. who would always lick stuff. my father deserves so much more. i have been on adderal and zoloft since 9th grade. i do not know what to do.. it's to late. my father has been building a 1.6 million dollar house with my lazy yet very talented uncle (in construction). i am a senior in highschool. i have heard about moving since the sixth grade.. THAT ******* HOUSE MADE IT SO MY FATHER COULD NOT EVEN TAKE ME TO VISIT COLLEGES LIKE ANY NORMAL OTHER KID. now he is selling it... obviously. it makes me sick looking at him now.. I LOVE HIM SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING HE HAS DONE FOR ME. i am so ******* disgusted with this. obviously i have like relationship problems.. i could use help like soon. i have more to say.....

[ke11yann]

i told my father that i prayed for him last night.. i do not think that is enough. for christ sakes.. he talked about suicide.. all b/c of the medication he is on. MY FAMILY IS SO MESSED UP. and i.. i am running out of options. i do have a good poppy personality... it just gets soo hard.

[ke11yann]

every time things seem to be getting better.. they just begin to go down the shitter. it's the truth my father said that as a kid he was a loner and now he is reverting to his new ways. i worry about him all the time now... is ANYONE on-line!!??????????

[Johnnycomelate?]

Hey man, You are so not alone.  I have been tested 15 times out to 15 months past unprotected vaginal.  My body has done some funky ****, as well as the whole white tongue thing that it seem everyone gets, risk or no risk.  My face feels like I have a sunburn.  It's sensitive to cold and hot weather.  I have eye floaters, and my upper back gets hot.  I get random hot patches all over my body from time to time.  Yet 15 negative tests.  My exposure was mid november '05 and my first test was not until 4 months later when I felt very sick.  That's when I really started to stress out.  I even had MAJOR night sweats for two nights.  It's so hard to believe the tests when you feel like this.  All the experts say "no chance in hell" I'm infected, but I just wish I'd get back to normal.