Question: Dr. said he thinks it's anxiety, but I'm not sure. I've been foggy headed for over 3 yrs. I went limp 1st time sitting at table 3 yr. ago. All kind of test & all was good. 2 wks. ago driving down rd., out of nowhere I got real blurry eyed & felt like I was going to pass out. Pulled off rd. & called 911. After getting home I have to lay in bed 4 or 5 days except for being up 20- 30 min. at time. Next night I fell limp at table. Not as bad as 3 yr. ago, but had g-baby to call son to help me to bed. 2mg valium will help some after I've been scared to death. 2 wks. ago was 1st time I ever got blurry eyed & hands shaking bad to. In between the last 3 yrs., it's been foggy headed daily. Some days worst than others.

Dr. Richard Schultz Says...:

Hi Janice,

Thank you for addressing this question to me, and I apologize for the significantly delayed response.

Perhaps you now have a better understanding of the distressing symptoms you experienced back in 2017. For the benefit of others, I will reply to your original questions.

First, I want to support your decision to undergo a thorough medical exam and workup following emergence of these symptoms. It is crucial to identify any underlying pathology needing attention before ruling these out and focusing on the psychological and behavioral aspects.

Psychological disturbance can manifest physically in an almost infinite variety of ways. Psychogenic seizures, conversion symptoms, and functional neurological disorders can all result from, and/or be exacerbated by psychological and mental health difficulties. Even in cases where the initial symptoms are purely physiological, the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral reactions that follow will determines whether the problem will dissipate, persist, or even worsen.

The fact that some of your symptoms are helped with the use of diazepam (Valium) indicates that central nervous system arousal (anxiety) is centrally involved in their manifestation. By learning to think about and respond to these symptoms differently, you will find that your experience of the symptoms shift and reduce. Although the limpness, fogginess, blurred vision, and shakiness caused you significant concern and distress, they don't likely pose any actual threat to you. 

If you have not already done so, I therefore recommend that you consult a clinical psychologist grounded in cognitive-behavioral therapy, and who has particular experience in treating somatic difficulties. Such a provider will be best-suited to helping you understand the mind-body connection, and in devising a treatment plan to reduce the symptom burden.

Please feel free to update me on the evolution of your symptoms,and your response to them, since the time of your initial writing.

Sincerely,

Richard E. Schultz, Ph.D.

Question: So abt a month ago I took a shroombar with my friends and had a really bad trip. During the trip I was having what felt like a panic attack while my mind was thinking about the worse things possible. I was thinking about why people kill themselves, felt like I was going crazy and thought that all my friends thought I was crazy. Also felt to the public eye that I was going crazy so during all of this I tried to act normal. I couldn’t not sit still so I did my best to avoid all the negative thoughts by walking with a friend on the beach. It also made me think about my girlfriend and as well challenged my sexuality. That really scared me because I know I’m straight. Another thing was that during the trip I felt like I couldn’t tell what was real. Like I was doubting and second guessing everything, also felt like time wasn’t real. I had to have a friend near me at all times because they were pretty much my anchor. So after the trip ended I was able to calm down and felt relieved. Fast forward a couple days and I’m fine but I realize that my anxiety is a lot higher. And a week later I’m driving with my girl and she makes a joke about one of my friends liking me and that triggered like a anxiety attack. So I realized that when she said that I thought abt the horrible trip which then sent my body to panic. It doesn’t end there, I recently broke up with my girl and now I feel like my anxiety is higher than ever and I feel like im always in my head and never in the present. I feel like i am numb to life and like I am there but i am not there. At times I feel like I’m back but then I’m back to feeling weird. I really want to feel like I’m back to normal because this state scares the hell outa of me.

Dr. Richard Schultz Says...:

Hello Friend, and thank you for addressing this question to me. I am sorry for the distress you have been experiencing.

It is not at all uncommon for symptoms of anxiety to be triggered, or exacerbated, by the use of psychedelic compounds, in this case a non-specific variant of mushrooms.

What most likely occurred for you is that a pre-existing vulnerability to anxiety (with particular focus on feared negative or critical judgments of others, otherwise known as "social anxiety," as well as a fear of uncertainty about yourself) became activated during your trip, inducing some derealization (not in itself uncommon with psychedelics, or necessarily unpleasant) and panic symptoms (less common but unpleasant). Due to the unboundaried perceptions and mental activity which become available with the use of mushrooms, your anxious cognitions, feelings, and sensations assumed an even more distressing and traumatic form, and which are now impossible to forget. In effect, these are post-traumatic memories.

Subsequently, via classical conditioning, your brain has associated even mild symptoms of anxiety with the traumatic mushroom experience, thereby worsening them. Other painful concerns that arose during the trip (regarding your sexuality and others' view of you as crazy) are now also associated with mild anxiety.

The good news is that, if you seek appropriate psychological treatment, you will not only "come back," but will likely do so with even more confidence, self-acceptance, and peace, than you ever before enjoyed. I suggest beginning with an initial consultation, and adding additional sessions as needed.

If, on the other hand, you continue to focus closely and vigilantly on the content of your anxious thoughts and feelings, and attempt to eliminate, avoid, analyze, rationalize, control, or eliminate them, or work to avoid situations or people that trigger them, they WILL grow stronger. When relating to our selves, that which we resist will persist (and this brief video provides an excellent illustration of that process )

Regarding a treatment provider, I strongly suggest that you work with a clinical psychologist grounded in cognitive-behavioral methodology, and who can further inform this with acceptance-based "third wave" interventions.

Although you may have by now experienced a reduction in the anxiety, I suggest seeking consultation anyway, at least for check-up purposes, to ensure that you are not coping in maladaptive ways.

Finally, please know that, in order to receive therapeutic benefit from psychedelic compounds, they must be utilized within a specific context, and in accordance with a variety of conditions and procedures. If these procedures are not observed, significant and sustained negative mental health consequences may result. This is particularly true if one has a pre-existing vulnerability to psychological distress of any kind.  

Question: Hi, four weeks ago I decided to take a pill of a natural psychedelic (containing LSA as active substance). I never had it before and in general I am not a drug user, I took them from my holiday in Amsterdam. The experience was highly traumatic, I experienced a near-death experience, I was convincedI was dying and I had a panic attack, feeling my soul was going out of my body. My boyfriend that was with me took me to the hospital, they check and my blood pressure and heart rate were normal. After that day it has been hard for me to live. I had a panic attack one week after that event, I started being scared of myself, having suicidal thoughts, not feeling like anything in life can make me happy anymore (I had a great life before, a loving relationship and my own business, nothing excites me anymore), on Monday I went to the gym and while walking back I felt huge vertigo and a feeling like falling down, as if I didn't have control of my body anymore (a feeling I had during the psychedelic experience) that made me almost have a second panic attack. Today I had an appointment for a scan and I asked my boyfriend to take me and to be there with me the whole time. I feel depersonalisation, as if everything around me was not real, and the whole time I was feeling scared of interacting with people because I didn't know if I would have started acting weird or panicking again. I am scared of being around people, I constantly feel muscle tension and anxiety (I tried to take a cbd pill yesterday and it didn't help, today I took Rescue Remedy, which is bach flowers for anxiety and it didn't help). Every day I am getting more and more scared of myself, I don't know what is happening to me, I have never had panic attacks before and I am scared that my life, my business and my relationship can fall over because of this. I am just scared that I will never go back to normal and this thought is killing me. I feel unworthy of anything and a lot of bad thoughts often come to my mind. If it might be relevant, when I was 18 to 20 I had a strong social anxiety, that I overcame working on myself and never consulting anyone. When I was 20 I started having eating disorders (light anorexia and bulimia and strong binge eating disorder) and I was prescribed with Lyrica (for generalized anxiety disorder) and was diagnosed with Cyclothymia. I stopped taking Lyrica at 26 because I felt like I was getting in control of my life after university and I started working on myself, doing physical activity, journaling etc... Of everything i have ever experienced on a psychological level, this is by far the worse and it's really hard to live like this. Less that one year ago my dad died after a long illness (15 years of Parkinson) and it felt like I was coping well with it, but after that trip, where I experienced death, I saw him when he was in the hospital and I experienced how he was feeling at the time, now I feel constantly anxious, as if I didn't deserve to be loved for all the mistakes I did in my life (like, when I was 18-27 I started partying a lot and becoming extremely superficial in order to escape the pain I was feeling for seeing my dad in pain, that was killing me inside and after so many years I feel like I am now facing the guilt of my whole life, when I tried to never stay close to him, and I just feel like I dont deserve love and I am a bad person).

Jim LaPierre Says...:

Thank you for sharing so much of yourself and your experience with me. By any standard, what you experienced was traumatic and as such, it continues to limit and hurt you. This is not the first time you've wrestled with copious amounts of anxiety but the biggest problem with having a panic attack is that we then develop anxiety around when the next panic attack will hut. A few suggestions: If/when you experience a panic attack, the very first thing you should do is be still, breathe deeply, and tell yourself, "I am going to feel much better in a few minutes." Panic attacks feel like a heart attack and they feel like they last forever but in truth they last typically 5-15 minutes for the worst of it. Telling yourself you'll feel better doesn't mean you'll feel good - the idea is that you're going to be ok and by telling yourself this you insert a healthy perspective into something that simply feels debilitating and lethal. I HIGHLY recommend that you see a therapist who specializes in trauma recovery and you would very likely be an excellent candidate for EMDR therapy after a stabilizing brief course of therapy. Please email me if I can answer questions or be helpful. Best, Jim

Question: How can i help my litlle brother who's an addict ; depressed ; have suicidal thoughts and lost the meaning of his life

William Anderson Says...:

The best thing to do is find a close-by addictions counselor who is licensed to provide mental health counseling and make sure he or she is available to give you an appointment right away if you are able to convince your brother to go with you. Then, in a loving and caring way, tell your brother, in a face-to-face meeting, that you love him and you are very concerned and want to see him get better from this crisis, that you know life can and will get better if he takes this step. Take him, not send him, for this appointment and be there with him. If he refuses, call your local crisis center, describe the situation and ask them what to do. Do all this today. Don't waste time. It's important to do this right away.

Question: I started having intense depression and anxiety out of nowhere about a week ago. About three weeks ago I was in a pretty significant car wreck where I was banged up a little, and about a month and a half ago I had a bad mushroom trip where I believed I had died. I have also done some competitive MMA fights as well, but I haven't done any in a few years, and do kratom on a regular daily basis. Any thoughts on what could help my situation?

Jim LaPierre Says...:

Hi there and thanks so much for your question.

You've certainly have had a lot going on of late

My first thought is to always get checked medically

I'd suggest seeing your Primary care physician for a consult

just to err on the side of caution.

The recent car crash was I'm sure overwhelming

Coupling what may have been a traumatic experience with the

overwhelming emotional experience of the experience you had on mushrooms

Those two events alone would leave one susceptible to a depressive episode.

I don't know your history and am mainly curious as to whether you've struggled with

feelings of depression in the past?

Either way - it feels like this is a good time to take stock and become introspective.

Do some journal writing about where your life is - what if any unmet needs exist,

what still hurts? Is your life moving in the direction you want it to? Are you living in

a way that provides fulfillment and satisfaction?

It doesn't have to be the case that something is wrong to increase your investments in you.

I hope you have loved ones who support you and who offer feedback about what they're seeing in you.

If I can answer further questions please email me: Jim@sobernow.com

Question: I have suffered with anxiety for almost 14 years now; and I am trying to find the med or combination of meds that can finally help me feel better. The only thing is that my anxiety was directly caused from trying mushrooms when I was 21. I had taken them twice before and had pleasant reactions both times; but the third time i tried them about a hour after I took them I felt a sudden wave of panic come over like a dark tide. I had never had any kind of panic or anxiety before so the feeling was alien to me so I went and laid down and went to sleep; when i woke up the next day the feeling was still there and its really never went away. I have tried taking Lexapro and Buspirone to mixed but mainly mild success. My anxiety is largely social based so its mainly when I around people or if I sit in the house for too long and then i get into a "zone". Usually when im at work Im fine because im constantly doing something and don't have time to "think too much". Drinking or smoking weed only makes it worse so i stopped that years ago. Iv had people suggest micro-dosing mushrooms again to try and reset what happened but Im scarred it'll only make things worse. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Dr. Mark Abrahams Says...:

In recent years I have treated two unrelated cases of anxiety/panic that turned out to be the result of very negative psychedelic trips. One was from 4 years earlier the other was from 20 years earlier. You have asked me who is a clinical hypnotherapist and not a medical doctor so naturally my response is going to be a hypnotherapeutic one not a medical response.

The thing is to locate a practitioner who routinely uses age regression in the treatment and be able to revivify the event and have you go 'back in time' (psychologically) and undo the trauma as it were. I have learned from a few schools of hypnosis but I have remained with the 5-Path™ method developed by my late, original instructor Gerald Kein and his student Cal Banyan. I do not want to describe the minutiae of the technique as that would not help you. What very well could eliminate the anxiety that was elicited after your 'bad trip' would be to receive treatment from someone trained in AND competent in this method. I can only suggest what I know from experience and both of these individuals were treated in 2 or 3 sessions (I can usually complete treatment in just 2 sessions but I do not depend on this for livelihood so be prepared to be marketed a "package" of several sessions by others).

I also alleviated to a manageable degree a case of HPPD (Hallucinogen Persistent Perceptual Disorder) wherein the client's psychedelic visuals (after-images of a waving hand for example and paisley patterns) never completely vanished. They became more prominent and distracting when he was under stress.

Your area code is listed as 79119 which is Amarillo, TX. The Banyan Hypnosis Center is located in Richardson, TX. If you call them you might mention that you were referred by a 5-Path™ practitioner who has been successful with trips-gone-bad. They would not have me listed as their trainee but I was taught by Gerry Kein even before Cal Baynan was and I have communicated with Cal in the past. Incidentally, I receive no compensation for my suggestion, this is purely a professional referral. Their link is:  acuityscheduling.com

If you want a better idea about hypnosis/hypnotherapy then my own page may be educational for you: www.drmarkabrahams.com .

Question: In 1996 I entered an alcohol detox facility. Not a drink since, A week or so later I went back to the psych asking for something to help me relax, Rx no help. Asked again and he said what I really wanted was like booze in a pill (benzos). Went to new shrink and within 1 minute he dis RX for Ativan 1mg. Then 2ng. Now several psychs and many years later I'm on 40 mg valium and 10mg ambien. I need to quit but do not want to talk to current shrink. Not sure why. Am afraid he will be too aggressive or maybe I am not committed. Want to be school teacher and cannot nap as required. Have studied Ashton technique and want to try that. How does ambian fit in that? Obviously need help and should talk to shrink, but very skeptical. Went to one shrink who insisted on his schedule and he scared me off. Way to aggressive. Need help.

Dr. Mark Abrahams Says...:

Dear MikeL24:

Your predicament IS serious and it is one that requires medical intervention especially given the amount of Benzodiazepines that you have become habituated to. Withdrawal treatment of significant daily intake, plus its accumulation in the fatty organs over such a long period of time is NOT something that an individual should attempt without careful monitoring and the availability of a physician familiar with Benzo withdrawal. A competent and ethical physician would not advise you to proceed with the Ashton Technique on your own. 

By now you are probably aware of potentially life-threatening symptoms that can occur from Benzodiazepine withdrawal withdrawal. If you are not familiar with BenzoBuddies, this is an on-line community which can provide support and information to help you take the necessary steps to get free from Benzodiazepine addiction. This site is NOT a substitute for sound medical advice. http://www.benzobuddies.org . You may well require a stay at a detox facility where the attending psychiatrists are sympathetic to your situation and not contributing to it!

Once an individual has finally become detoxified from Benzodiazepines, there are a number of OTC supplements that can facilitate relaxation (e.g., certain isolated amino acids, herbals, and nootropics), but these cannot work as long as one's nervous system is monopolized by benzodiazepine drugs and the consequential neurotransmitter imbalances that characterize the condition.

Best regards,                                                                                                                                                   Dr. Mark Abrahams

Question: Hi Mr. LaPierre, This morning, my husband, daughters and I went to see the therapist we started seeing a few weeks ago. I shared with her that I am struggling with Secondary Trauma surrounding school shootings. These are the most frightening thing for me to consider, yet they have been happening around the country with frightening regularity. Within the past month, there were two threats - one at each of our daughters' schools - that have caused me to experience horrid anxiety and often left me in tears. The idea that I am sending our sweet girls to public school and that there could be someone there who feels angry and violent enough where he would commit this kind of act just shakes me to my core. Of course, when news stories have occurred covering one of these events across the country, I put myself in the same place as the families themselves. It is as if I am experiencing their unimaginable tragedy also. Wednesday, an email was sent by our 12-year old's middle school to say there had been some sort of "terroristic threat" by one of its students. All I could do was beg my husband - through tears and sobs - to allow our daughters to stay home this past Friday. He allowed this, but not without a ton of conflict between him and I about allowing this. He feels that we have to live our lives and by keeping our daughters at home, we are really not doing so. I know I cannot keep them locked inside their home, but honestly, if I could convince them, I would love to live in a "safe house". We'd drive each other bonkers, but at least no one would shoot us. Today, our family therapist talked to me about spirituality. I feel a tremendous amount of mistrust towards conventional religion and therefore turn my nose up towards anything "God" and "Jesus". She spoke to me about developing a relationship with my "higher power" instead. After reading what you wrote on your site, I was quite taken with what you said. Do you know of any books that are available to help me develop my relationship with my higher power? Years ago, I read "Codependent No More" and thought a great deal about Melody Beattie. I don't know if you are familiar with her or not. Thanks for reading this long email! Elizabeth G,

Jim LaPierre Says...:

Elizabeth,

Thank you for your question and my heart goes out to you and your family.

My children were in middle school when 9/11 occurred and I will never forget how terrifying it was to know that there was a broad, developing threat and not understanding whether I could keep my children safe.

School shootings have become too common and your fear is justified. I also understand your husband's point of view. I would say that you're both correct.

I think the central theme is powerlessness and I believe it's one of the most difficult lessons a person encounters in their lifetime. Powerlessness is not hopelessness or helplessness. It is simply not having control. Everything about fear makes us crave greater amounts of control. I have found that as much as I dislike powerlessness, I dislike everything I do when I don't accept it more. I agonize and stress and seek comfort in illusions. This of course does not help my loved ones and it makes me stressed and unhealthy. I recommend the Serenity Prayer and I recommend it to people who are devout atheists. It does a wonderful job of naturally separating what I have control over and what I don't.

The things I don't have control over, I surrender to a Higher Power. That was a very hard lesson for me to learn, but I reconciled that whether I trust the Universe or not. I still can't do a thing about it - so I quite literally have nothing to lose.

Religion doesn't work for me either - but as a clinician, I have seen far too many miracles not to believe that there is something more powerful than myself and I choose to believe that It wants good for me.

So, I talk to it - and in the worst of all worlds, I'm just talking to myself which is still healthy. I ask my Higher Power for absolutely everything. It's not that I think of the Universe as Santa Claus - far from it.

It is that I do not believe me asking changes what the Universe will do.

Instead, I believe it makes me more mindful and aware - which leads to recognizing blessings placed in my path.

I would say the connection you have to your children is spiritual - it's about connection. The fear of losing them is intolerable - I concur. How you cope with that fear will determine the lion's share of what is possible in your life.

I also urge you to consider that you are teaching your children by your example.

Books on the topic:

• Everything Anne Lammot has ever written, but especially Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith
• the Tao Te Ching
• The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous
• Narcotics Anonymous - all of their literature

I hope you find what speaks to your soul and I pray your children are safe.

If I can be of further help please email me

counseling@roadrunner.com

Very best,

Jim

Question: I am becoming a Certified Recovery Specialist, received the training, taking the licensure test on the 27th. Is there specific training for a Christian CRS? There are also a lot of Recovery Community Organizations for advocacy throughout the US. Are there any for Christians?

Jim LaPierre Says...:

Hi Richard,

Thanks for connecting with us. Congratulations on your success thus far and thank you for the service you are and will be providing. I encourage you, if you're not already familiar, the check out Celebrate Recovery. It's a distinctly Christian recovery program that supports addiction recovery and well as other forms of recovery through Christina principles and practices. While I don't know of any advocacy groups that are solely Christian, I do not an emerging trend of Interfaith programs on local levels. Some of these are ecumenical movements in meeting basic life needs and some are advanced to the point of political advocacy.

I have long believed that churches and religious communities are the greatest untapped resource in supporting addiction recovery. I hope and pray that if you don't find a group that meets your needs that you'll consider creating one. Contact me if I can be helpful

Best,

Jim

Question: I am taking suboxone for the past 4 years. I want to stop taking suboxone but I am afraid of having panic or anxiety attacks. Is suboxone helping anxiety or contributing?

Yerachmiel Donowitz Says...:

Suboxone is not designed or even given to have an impact on anxiety. The question is if you have had any issues with anxiety and either the thought of not having the support of suboxone or experiencing discomfort in the withdrawal process, that could trigger an anxiety attack if you are already prone to anxiety attacks. If you are using suboxone legally, consult the prescribing doctor. Ifyou are getting it by some other means, consult you mental health professional about your anxiety and things that can provoke an anxiety attack.I hope this information will be helpful to you. There is always a preference not to take even prescribed medication if not absolutely necessary.