Your story really hits home with me. Our youngest, 12, is having severe anxiety along with OCD tendencies - they tend to go together, it seems. She begrudgingly started counseling about 2 months ago, but she now says she wants to keep going. Still more bad days than good, but at least there are some good days.

It's a pretty raw deal for the whole family. It's obvious she doesn't want this, isn't 'misbehaving', and is suffering. Long story short, we understand your fear and pain.

We're not in Texas anymore and I am sorry we can't provide a recommendation for therapy. It may come as little consolation, but know you're not alone and neither is your daughter.

Unfortunately, we have no further explanation on what "I don't know how to eat" means. It's frustrating because we feel that we can help her but she just won't let it happen. She fights everything. Seems like this behavior is a form of rebellion that she didn't act out on during the rebellious years. It's just so strange.

She was a very high performer, but she didn't know how to stop working. I bet she worked 12-13 hours per day and a lot on weekends. She had a form of work OCD. There were no signs that this illness was lurking inside her before age 26.

After her appointment yesterday, she has a different form of medication. She also has a counseling appointment today. With baby steps, I hope we can see a light at the end of the tunnel. It's just like someone mentioned earlier…1 step forward and 2 steps back is a common theme.

I tell my daughter that she is not alone and many people suffer and struggle at some point in their life. Very few people are immune to this. I'm saddened to hear more and more of your stories and experiences, but as mentioned before, although we don't know each other, we have that family feeling here and can lean on each other with the similar goal of trying to figure out how to make it easier for those struggling.

Imo, depression is the precursor to immense change. The body and mind are conflicting and when the obstacle is overcome its like a Phoenix reborn.

The problem is recognizing the obstacle and the goals.

Has CBT therapy been attempted?

The first group therapy in the beginning was recommended by her psychiatrist but was not good. It was 3 hours a day for 7 weeks minus weekends and holidays. This was a group of about 10-12 that included drug addicts and others with many different problems. This environment stressed her out even more when listening to their stories and struggles. She completed the program but I'm not sure of the benefit.

The second group therapy was for 4 hours a day for 4 weeks, a much smaller group, very good leaders and materials. I think she benefited from this program.

We will have to look more into CBT. Looks like we had a good virtual (Covid protocol) counseling session today with a new counselor.

One thing to watch for with all of the doctor appointments, counseling sessions, etc. is the financial side of this. It took me numerous months, but I ended up getting a refund from group therapy #1 of over $2,000, a refund from psychiatrist #1 of over $800, and a refund of over $200 from counselor #1, all of which were excess charges against her credit card which were ultimately paid by insurance. No one would have refunded this without the analysis and refund request. I'm still fighting a $2,000 charge by group therapy #2 where insurance is refusing to pay and when they do pay, that's another $800 refund to my daughter. I'm willing to advise anyone if you need help on the financial side of this, just let me know.

That is some intensive group therapy. Maybe a support group is more the term to look for. Others with her diagnosis so that she isn't so alone.

Yeah, CBT might ask questions like "what does the best version of you look like 5 years from now?"

Idea is to project yourself past the muck of the present and think about the future, create a goal and then work backwards to figure out what steps and successes have to be made to get there. Really powerful process and goal setting. Have not done any myself but have conversed with multiple practitioners about it at my store as it's a major curiousity of mine.

It's weird how similar CBT is to sales.




And for further reading on why psilocybin is in the news every week: https://microdose.buzz/news/new-hopkins-study-finds-psilocybin-4x-more-effective-than-ssri/

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The one piece that has made a difference in our lives is volunteering at a local food bank. Somehow helping someone else who has no ability to repay you ends up healing the person who is volunteering. I have no explanation of why this works

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Powerful indeed.
I think Theres a shift of consciousness from me to we, and tribal connections at play. I don't know though. It's a really interesting concept.

Bringing joy or relief into someone's life is an amazing emotion.



@jczar
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/making-the-whole-beautiful/202201/the-keys-successful-recovery-childhood-trauma

I really appreciate all the input. This entire thread is going to be very beneficial for my daughter as well as our family!

Lexapro has worked wonders for me. And sleeping again

Sorry to hear this about your daughter. This seems like such a common thing these days.

I will say, I bet if she met a nice guy and got in a healthy relationship it may help her manage things better.

Good intent, point being a peer or lover who she can be completely vulnerable with I agree might do wonders.

I also agree taking one on while in a vulnerable state could be the worst, especially without good filters, and that vulnerability could be abused.

Find the root, have a plan, then explore elationships that might compound the personal growth into something that couldn't be performed alone.

My two satoshis.

That's awesome, Max! Please continue to keep us updated on how this is working for you.

Max Power said:

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Just wanted to say this thread convinced me to finally get a medical marijuana card. The anxiety has really been pressing on me lately. I was able to get it pretty quickly and go to the dispensary yesterday to secure some THC/CBD oil which I used last night. I actually slept until my alarm went off and woke up for the first time in months without feeling within 20 minutes like a force was squeezing my chest/heart area. I didn't take a lot, wasn't looking to get high, just get some relief. If anyone here lives in an area where medical or all use is legal I am recommending you consider it. I didn't want to go on Valium, Xanax, etc. Feeling borderline emotional right now since I have a sense of peace for a change, and I don't really remember what that's like.

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I'm really excited the 1:1 worked splendidly for you. It's an excellent mix if trying to not get high and many find this ratio the best since the cbd counteracts the thc on the "high/paranoia" front. The cbd is also far more bioavailable to the ECS receptors than alone.

What brand was it and where ya located?

I'm in MO, Care by Design is the brand. I'm using 2:1 CBD:THC ratio. I used a half dropper, which equates to 10 mg of CBD and 5 mg of THC. I got a few different things, all have CBD, none are just straight THC. Price wise it's all reasonable as well, 3 different products came to about $120 in total and it will last me a while. The people were very helpful. The building was nice, it felt weird at first since there's a check in process and you have to be escorted in and out, sign paperwork, etc. But it's a secure building and they have protocols to follow, which I get. It was more like an office space than a head shop, no hippie art displays or anything like that.

Thats valuable perspective. I hope to own a dispensary one day as well.

I am very curious about the enzyme re: serotonin/dopamine inhibition.

Did you get tested for this? If so what test or enzyme was checked?

I also suffer from anxiety/ocd that goes off the rails big time when conditions are right. SSRIs made me dull/zonked out as well.

For some it also helps if they talk to someone who has gone through something similar. I talked to 2 shrinks last week and they just pissed me off, kept mentioning that they have had clients with similar situations and both said they could never imagine if something like that happened to them. After I asked them how they couldn't imagine what I have gone through how the heck can you really help me?

Having no significant experience with anxiety and depression, we thought removing or resolving some of the anxiety triggers, addressing and solving problems and worries as quickly as possible, etc. would immediately help, but this illness had a tight grip already and hasn't let go. It looks like this has worked for some here. We are also finding that online counseling vs. in-person counseling is more challenging.

Has anyone either tried, researched or considered noninvasive neurofeedback such as that offered by Houston Neuroscience Brain Center or a similar provider? This is brain mapping where locations of dysfunction are located in the brain and treated in coordination with your provider.

I had not heard of it, but did a little reading and will ask my kid's therapist if she has any experience with that form of therapy.

ETA: Not her area of expertise. She's treating with Exposure Response Prevention at the moment.

I'm curious about any experiences with NeuroStar treatments if anyone has done this. A good pharmacist friend of ours had success with it if anyone else is interested in checking it out.

I'm sorry to hear that, brother. Losing a close friend is never easy, especially when your circle is small. I'm here for you if you need a friend, and I'm sure the others on this thread are as well. Give me a shout if you want to chat or need someone to talk to.

Max, Boats is absolutely correct, you have many more friends than you think.

I'm really sorry that you lost someone so close MP.

I'm with you in spirit and available if you want to release any burden or stress off your shoulders.

You are not alone.

You know, it may not be an illness. It may be her body/soul/brain telling her she's not where she's supposed to be at this moment in space/time.

I know it sounds woo-woo but giving her a change of pace or a new environment might be externally stimulating enough that these other avenues of "disease/symptom treatment" instead of treating the root of the "dis-ease."

Western medical industrial complex, imo, is immensely underwhelming in resolving mental/physical issues, and only does so at its own massive benefits. There's good in there but tons and tons of mediocrity or worse in-between.

I obviously attribute much to administrative errors.

Love you guys wish the best for anyone suffering.

administrative errors said:

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You know, it may not be an illness.

Western medical industrial complex, imo, is immensely underwhelming in resolving mental/physical issues, and only does so at its own massive benefits.

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This may be well intended but denying that OP's daughter is ill will not help. To OP, I've had similar issues, so understand that I have empathy rather than judgement.
Also, I discourage the attitude that western medicine is ineffective in treating mental illness. Yes, there is always room for improvement but research and statistics generally show some good outcomes.

https://namica.org/what-is-mental-illness/

Hope I posted the link right. It shows some stats from California but also touches on our country as a whole which is why I'm including it.

To OP some mental illnesses are known for being resistant to treatment. But that doesn't mean recovery is not eventually possible. I was pretty resistant for awhile.

I encourage OP to be open to inpatient. If daughter is non compliant with meds and taking care of her body, IP can help. It can be difficult to think clearly or absorb therapy when in a state of physical unwellness/underweight/inconsistency with meds kind of situation.
I wish you and your daughter well. If I can help in any way, shoot me a message or email.

shintzel@yahoo.com

Sorry, I'm not saying to eschew western medicine, but make sure to explore options, especially if there are fairly well known opportunities that perform exceptionally well for stated conditions. Worst thing that'll happen is she's somehow allergic to cannabis (raaaare) or has a "big laugh" on mushrooms.

I'm an idiot, if my daughter were in the same boat I'd be working whatever opportunities presented itself. There's not very many in medicine that have any knowledge in endocannabinoid deficiency syndrome or any knowledge of the ECS, and fewer still with any knowledge in psychedelics unless they've been practicing underground since the 70's due to the immense successes for a long list of "Mental illnesses" that are overprescibed, exceptionally burdensome, thoughtless, and misunderstood. I only state this from experience and speaking directly with those people.

I'll stop after this post.

When you've explored everything else, these options will still be here. You'll know nearly immediately if they are effective. And if they weren't, you'd still be able to keep exploring whatever other options are out there.

Considering the circumstances of the past 2 years and her history you've shared, sure seems like a slam dunk.

I've shared, and thats enough.

Quote:

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when you're one step ahead of the crowd, you're a genius. When you're Two steps ahead, you're a crackpot.
-Shlomo Riskin

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Pretty well documented crackpot at your service.

This continues to be a great thread with a lot of useful experiences, recommendations and considerations. Thank you all! I'm going to do my best to get to the bottom of this and hopefully post some information one day that helped my daughter and will help someone else out there.