neurotransmitters

32/male

I have aggitation where I'm uncomfortable in my own mind, in my own skin --  severe 24/7 derealization -- anxiety -- nothing feels real and I'm 24/7 lightheaded.    

Lately it's been worse and I've had a huge appettite.   If I cut back on food, it makes my symptoms worse.  My once high sex drive has also crashed recently.  

I was wonder.  Do this cluster of symptoms point to any particular neurotransmitter --- and would it be too low or too high in my brain?    Seratonin, norepinephrine, or dopamine?

My psychiatrist basically lets me pick what I want to take but so far I've been reluctant to try something because I am unsure of what we're treating,  and if I push the neurotransmitters the wrong way, I could go into psychosis.  

I am very high sensitive to side effects of drugs which have ever been reported to alter mood (even rarely), so I must be careful.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

you have already received excellent advice. I suggest you ask your darker about a medication like Klonopin to more directly attack the anxiety experience which seems to  underly the symptoms you describe. There is no one-to-one correlation between symptoms and neurotransmitters.

[Jaquta]

I personally don't agree with the approach your psychiatrist is taking and believe that it is they who should be, with your cooperation, deciding which medication may be most beneficial to you.

I feel your doctor is manipulating you.  I feel that they believe that there would be less risk of side-effects and therefore greater compliance if you were to select your own med.  Possibly they feel frustrated enough, or concerned enough, by your symptoms to go with whatever you decide.

Food is often used by some people to manage emotions and therefore symptoms.

[Paxiled]

There is no scientific evidence anyone has any more or less of any neurotransmitter than anyone else.  What meds do is alter the natural way the brain uses them that produces their effects.  Psychosis isn't going to come from meds, but they do have their various side effects depending on the person and the med.  That's the trade-off.  And what's the point of seeing a specialist if they don't have recommendations and can't explain this better than someone on a website?