Anxious

[hmkim]

Background: I'm a 40 year old male with a happy family. My left vision was lost in 1990.

Although I have only one good eye, I had a very successful life. I never worried about my vision until 5/18/2006 when I was diagnosed with cataract in my good eye. I had cataract surgery on 8/09 and everything seems OK now according to my eye doctors.

But since 5/18/2006, I've been constantly thinking about potential vision loss. I thought, "If the surgery goes well, I'll stop thinking about it." In fact, however, after the surgery, I'm thinking more about it. I think about all negative things related to human vision in my free time and I cannot seem to get out of those thoughts. I constantly do research on serious eye diseases.  I'm constantly worried that something really bad may happen to my vision.

I know that all those negative thoughts do absolutely nothing for me. But I just cannot avoid those thoughts.

Should I seek a professional help? If so, what kind of psych doc should I see to discuss the issue? THANKS!  

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

yes, you should seek help, and probably from a psychiatrist who has a dynamic orientation and can talk you through your temporarly period of obsessive anxiety.  Your mind is working over the worst case scenarios, and is stuck in a loop.  You'll get out of this in a short time.

[rosetoes]

Psych doc?  I don't know.  I saw a psych doc and I swear we never ever spoke of anxiety, he merely prescribed xanax and I would meet him monthly to get a prescription.  You do need to talk to someone, maybe a family member or good friend or even your eye doctor.  Once you discuss your fears and get some reassurance, you may have the burden lifted.  I found that talking about your fears with someone can help.  I'd at least give it a try, before heading to a psych doc.  If you do go that route, please do alot of homework, there are so many of them that are no good.  They prescribe meds and keep you as their patient indefinitely.  After 6 weeks of my doc, I dropped him and never looked back.  I realized that I was becoming job security for him and he really wasn't interested in resolving my issue.
Best wishes!