Confused over mental health!?

[ppatel]

Hi im a 23 year old male,
My mind frame is always good
However for the past month ive been suffering from something that’s keeping my mind racing at 100mph.
I used to smoke cannabis occasionally for 2 years, I quit due to a few bad experiences. But in the past few months I had a few puffs and started feeling uneasy, paranoid/self conscious may have been a bad trip so now im done for good – I have no addiction to cannabis and only used to smoke it socially
My main concern is my mental health, on a quiet night alone in my room a month ago I had a strange feeling, my mind was racing so fast I wanted to just rip it out, I wasnt sweating or panicking but was just thinking about whats happening 2 me. I tried to get back to reality after that but I just cant shut off my brain – random thoughts about things ive said, past experiences, chatter and conversations in my own mind.
I try to control it but cant and feel insane because of it. It goes on all day and night.
For the past month ive done intense googling and research into mental health- for a self-diagnosis and feel worse as symptoms im feeling are similar to things like Psychosis,Schizophrenia, Depersonalization/Derealization, depression, social anxiety, OCD, bipolar and others. even cyberchondriac
Im constantly living in my mind or head and cant concentrate on the outside world with my racing thoughts and it makes me paranoid/self conscious  because I cant act like my usual self infront of my friends/family. Who have said I look stressed and not really with it. Reality has become strange also i analyse people and everything, im feeling confused about everything. Im seeing a counselor soon for help.

My doc said its anxiety most likely due to a 2 year girlfriend breakup which happened the same day as my apparent panic attack.But I think my brains become too fast and now because of all the odd thoughts its gone too far ive started thinking like why am I laughing am i happy now? im aware of too much stuff.

Thankyou

[Ashish Mittal, MD]

Dear ppatel,

Thanks for posting your query.

As you are seeking medical help on your own and have given me a good description of problem, the possibility of psychosis and schizophrenia is ruled out as a cause. This is so as the first symptom in these disorders is that the patient is no longer aware that he/she is ill.

The next possibility that needs to be considered is anxiety disorder. In anxiety disorder ( which is a broad term), the following common illnesses are included:
•     Generalized anxiety disorder
•     Phobia
•     Panic disorder
•     Obsessive compulsive disorder

From your description, obsessive compulsive disorder appears to be most likely because of the following symptoms that you are currently experiencing: excessive thinking, difficulty in stopping thoughts, increase self-awareness, difficulty concentrating because of excessive thought and the presence of insight regarding problem. Many times, more than one anxiety disorders can coexist, just as you have had a panic disorder once in the past.

Cannabis can itself cause an anxiety disorder. It can also increase the severity of pre-existing anxiety disorder. In both condition, you should stop using it.
I would suggest that you consult a psychiatrist to get your anxiety treated. For treatment, cognitive behaviour therapy and drug therapy are used.

For drug treatment, two types of medicine are used. For immediate relief of anxiety, the benzodiazepines group of medicines are used, and for long term relief most commonly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used. SSRI takes around 3-4 weeks to show its effect and cognitive behaviour therapy (instituted by a psychotherapist) also takes few weeks to show its effect.

Apart from that, stopping the use of cannabis will also help in anxiety reduction.

Finally, I would like to reassure you that very effective treatment is available for your condition and you needn’t worry.

Hope that this information helps and hope that you will get better soon.

Thank you for using MedHelp's "Ask an Expert" Service, where we feature some of world's renowned medical experts in their fields. Millions have benefitted from our service to get personalized advice for them and for their loved ones.

Best Regards
Dr. Ashish Mittal

[ppatel]

yes im not taking it again, ive seen a few doctors recently now and they all just said its anxiety and have been given citalopram 10mg, the doctor said i should get better and he said its short-term. Is it though i feel horrible im just always thinking about something random. I am very paranoid and self conscious about myself because my brains so alert. Is this forever can these feelings go away ive only felt like this for a month of my life and feel like its for life now?

[ryleerose]

I suggest you stay off the weed....as now days you have no idea what you are getting or what kind of chemicals are in it.  Now as far as your current dr. goes I suggest you get a second opinion..But it is vital that you stop the weed first...   As that alone could be the cause!!!!

[ppatel]

I was given sleeping tablets for a month only im off them now and sleep normally, i dont under or over sleep. The doctor just stated that its most likely OCD. Im not depressed because im a happy person im just worried at the changes that have occured i believe i should be back to normal soon. My habit of googling symptoms and learning mental illnesses for 6 hours a day on average hasnt helped and ive just stopped that and will try to re focus on the real world. My mind is full of info it doesnt need to know it will take a few weeks i think to be back to my old self i hope.  

[alchemyhope]

hello there. I read your issue therefore I would like to know about your sleeping habits. Look in most of the cases of anxiety and depression your brain becomes hypersensitive and medication involves mainly drugs which can help you to spend most of the time sleeping as it helps to make your brain dormant. Therefore kindly let me know about your sleeping habits.

[ppatel]

Hi Dr Mittal, Thanks for the help i wish i asked this earlier.
I dont know if you answer follow up questions but i was wondering if this is the most likely problem can it be cured?? also im sure its also social anxiety or a lack of confidence in myself as i never am anxious ive only felt like this since the breakup with my girlfriend of 2 years and with the added fact that i was very worried the cannabis i smoked a few days earlier will cause a mental problem? thankyou

[ppatel]

I pray it does! month later and theres not much change ive just accepted how im feeling not improving on it. This is very difficult to explain i mean watching tv is difficult lol cant even focus or keep up like am i losing it. By this i question 'reality' i cant notice things id usually notice like a joke or other certain things that have made me slower at reacting i then start thinking more. I really am trapped in my mind all the time and now questioning who i am altogether its getting annoying. May have to take up medication or meditation but i need a diagnosis asap. Too much knowledge has messed me up especially at this time. I hope its just a serious lack of confidence issue or something.

[stormbear]

Yes there are experts on this forum i.m not one though ,i can relate to what you say about your gf , i also felt the same  when i broke up with my first serious gf years ago it seemed like my whole world was falling apart .It seems like your going through depression which is understandable considering whats happened i know it hurts and things seem messed up but things do get better .

[ppatel]

Hey im 100% of weed my friend, I smoked it for 1 summer a few years ago and it was good, and continued for a short while on and off in university like a lot of people my age. But as i became aware of the -ve effects of weed i stopped and very rarely smoked it, but all my friends smoke it and i just sit their i never usually would take a few hits but as id been drinking a bit this night i did take a few hits i told myself why did u do that? but either way ive smoked it and i started worrying because i now know about the bad side of weed. Im not touching it again and im annoyed that i did even take some last month.

But thats my problem, Im confused about y i feel like this, The very same day i felt like this - is the same day my girlfriend called me and said we are completely over i felt extremely hurt its my first serious gf and i dont know whats going on? my mind is all over the place. University work, Gf, My life in general and now my mind is going nuts. I just want to be back to my old self.

Thanks though i agree never going too touch weed! btw is this is the expert forum?

[stormbear]

Stay off the weed man you'll be better for it , i know a lot of people who have had simmilar things happen to them from smoking it ,it obviously doesn't agree with you, it effects everyone so differently i smoked it  on and off for 14 years so i know what it is capable of doing to you   from my own experiences but for your mental health concerns it is a good idea to see a professional in that field  and be completely honest with them tell them everything that's going on so you can get treated properly .                                                                                                                all the best hope things go well