Psychiatry is often “mystified”, as a result of which the treatment of mental illness seems to most to be something extremely extraordinary, unknown and complex. And very often this is exactly what happens: the process of treating psychiatric patients really does cause a lot of problems and difficulties.
A psychiatrist is the same doctor as a therapist, cardiologist, ENT specialist, etc.
Society has developed a very specific attitude towards psychiatry, and it is unfounded and even absurd. Treatment by a psychiatrist, unfortunately, is condemned by people, considered shameful and often hidden from family and friends.
It is important to understand that mental health therapy is a routine treatment for an unusual illness. Nowadays, there are not so many differences between the principles of treatment in psychiatry and, say, therapy (although some “unusual” procedures are still used).
A person should not be more afraid of a visit to a psychiatrist than a visit to a therapist, cardiologist or ENT specialist. This, in many ways, is the key to the mental health of the population. Let's look at what a consultation with a psychiatrist can be like using the example of obsessive-compulsive neurosis, the treatment of which is very important due to its wide distribution.
What is obsessional neurosis, and does it need to be treated?
The main goal of treatment is to maximize the patient’s quality of life. If a disease interferes with life, then it definitely needs to be treated. Does obsessional neurosis interfere with normal life? To understand this, you need to find out what is commonly understood by this term.
Obsession is the appearance in a person of thoughts or actions that are perceived by him as something alien. A person cannot get rid of them: obsessions force him to perform certain actions, thereby becoming the cause of debilitating mental discomfort.
Treatment of panic attacks
The decision on the choice of treatment tactics depends on the severity of panic attacks.
If we are talking about severe panic attacks (from 4 attacks per week), then the patient requires specialized psychotherapeutic or complex psychiatric treatment.
Moderate panic attacks can be treated in a variety of ways using traditional drug or non-drug treatments, or in combination with alternative and homeopathic treatments.
Mild panic attacks are treated depending on the patient’s preferences and can include any means and methods, from mastering self-control techniques, using homeopathic remedies, to the services of a psychotherapist.
Manifestations of obsessional neurosis
The most common manifestation of obsessional neurosis is fear, which is very difficult and sometimes almost impossible to overcome. Phobias make social contacts, work and all other aspects of life very difficult.
Another version of neurosis is, in fact, obsessive thoughts that a person cannot “drive” out of his head. These thoughts interfere with learning, concentration and greatly tire the patient. An important criterion: a person with obsessional neurosis never realizes his thoughts. The last type is compulsive. It manifests itself through obsessive movements and excessive ritualism.
Examples of obsessional neurosis
It is very easy to explain the essence of this phenomenon with examples. Let's say you believe that you shouldn't look in the mirror before leaving the house. However, if you accidentally look in the mirror, you will still leave the house without giving it much importance.
Or, for example, a black cat on the road will not force you to reschedule your business: you may be a little worried, but you will soon forget about it. A person with compulsive obsessions, looking in the mirror, will bolt the door and stay at home all day, and, having met a black cat, go to the pharmacy for sedatives.
As you can see, obsessional neurosis makes the patient’s life very difficult. This means that we can say confidently and definitely: this disease definitely needs treatment, and the treatment must be professional and complete.
Symptoms
Symptoms of panic attacks can be very diverse:
- cardiopalmus,
- sensations of constriction and pain in the chest area,
- lack of air up to the inability to breathe,
- sweating,
- nausea, abdominal pain,
- stress diarrhea,
- frequent urination,
- decreased libido,
- trembling in the body,
- chills, convulsions.
Sleep disturbance is also a classic symptom of panic attacks.
The psychological state of patients varies from a feeling of internal anxiety to vivid attacks of panic with physical overexcitation, thrashing, obsessions or isolation, protecting oneself from the outside world, indifferently remaining in the fetal position in unsuccessful attempts to overcome one’s internal discomfort.
Most often, panic attacks are associated with fear for one’s own health, for one’s family, or for work. As the disease progresses, fears spread to all areas of normal daily life. Source: flickr (Dominik Plonner).
Patients are unable to cope with their own emotions, lose interest in everything, and their ability to work and social activity decreases.
Treatment of obsessional neurosis
We found out what this disorder is and what its danger is. Let's return to the main question: how to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder? There are several options here. It is best to combine them if possible, because this is how you can achieve the best result.
Here is what a psychiatrist has in his “arsenal” for patients with obsessional neurosis:
- antidepressants of various types and generations; - means that normalize mood (normalizers); - psychotherapy.
Now let's look at each of these points in more detail.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants are a group of drugs that affect certain active substances in the brain. By changing the balance of these active substances, and acting differently on the same substance, antidepressants change the speed and orientation of many mental processes, mood and general condition.
In the treatment of obsessional neurosis, antidepressants occupy a central place, because only they can return a person to the possibility of normal communication and full socialization. Proper use of antidepressants guarantees long-term remission without relapse. Sometimes a course of treatment (combined, of course) is enough for a person to get rid of neurosis for life.
In recent years, there have been quite a lot of antidepressants: fundamentally new substances have been synthesized that have fewer side effects, are safer and more effective. Old drugs are gradually leaving the practice of psychiatrists (although they remain in the practice of doctors of other specialties). It is unlikely that a psychiatrist will prescribe you amitriptyline or a similar drug: much more effective substances are now available, the use of which gives lasting, good results without the risk of repeated exacerbations or unsuccessful treatment.
The most popular are antidepressants that affect serotonin receptors. These medications do not cause drug dependence and have relatively few contraindications. One significant disadvantage of this group of drugs: in the first week of treatment, almost all patients complain of severe, debilitating nausea.
Normotimics
Mood stabilizers are drugs used to correct mood: they ensure its stability, stability and constancy. Interestingly, there is not a single drug that belongs specifically to this group and was created only to normalize mood. All such drugs (even the ancient drug made from lithium salts) initially had a different purpose, and the normothimic effect is a kind of pleasant bonus.
If a person suffers from obsessive neurosis, his treatment will necessarily include drugs that normalize mood. Like antidepressants, mood stabilizers affect the main links in the pathogenesis of obsessional neurosis, and their combination is considered the most effective treatment method.
Carbamazepine and its derivatives are most often used. This drug is also used to treat epilepsy (and its various types), but in addition to the anticonvulsant effect, carbamazepine also has a pronounced normothimic effect. By the way, carbamazepine is a substance that was synthesized from a strong antidepressant. To some extent, this explains this effect and high effectiveness in the treatment of obsessive thoughts and, in particular, obsessive movements (compulsions).
Psychotherapy
One of the most important aspects of treating obsessions is psychotherapy. Perhaps you notice fear or obsessive thoughts, or maybe you observe obsessive movements in your child, contact a psychiatrist. In this situation, individual psychotherapy is indicated.
The most common direction is behavioral psychotherapy, based on neurolinguistic programming or “body” orientation. Indeed, in a sense, obsessions are behavioral disorders, so treatment should be aimed at it. Behavioral psychotherapy can be combined with suggestive psychotherapy (it is rarely used as a single treatment method).
Suggestion is what is called “suggestion.” This technique is carried out, as a rule, after preliminary preparation: the person is immersed in a state of medicated or natural sleep, hypnosis, etc. Sometimes suggestion is practiced with a awake person, who must, of course, be calm and relaxed. This state is most easily achieved with sedatives, although experienced psychotherapists can do without them.
Homeopathy
Gibson Douglas Medlicott(1888-1977) - after many years spent as a Christian mission surgeon in China, in 1936 he took up homeopathy and in 1946 completed a course at the London Homeopathic Hospital, at whose clinic he subsequently worked. Known for his articles on materia medica, published between 1963 and 1977. in the British Homeopathic Journal and published in 1987 as a separate book, Studies in Homeopathic Medicines.
Original here
Fear is perhaps the richest and most common of all human emotions. This is confirmed by folklore, myths and the experience of many generations. Fear is the main motive in religion, in politics, in social behavior and customs, hidden in a person’s desire to live. Fear as a sensation, in its various forms and shades, is a psychological component of the response to a threat. Any threat causes an immediate response. The threat can be directed at a person, endangering his life and health, or it can be aimed at his wallet, financial well-being, prestige, reputation or relationships in society. In the face of unexpected danger, the primitive reaction is to run away, hide, find shelter. If escape is impossible, then the alternative is to resist, fight, take retaliatory action. It may happen that none of these actions is possible, but in any case, the situation must be responded to somehow. Most likely, the first response will be fear, which can then turn into anger. The threat may be real or perceived, but if it continues, anxiety will occur, described as a state of chronic fear. Then hatred will come, for it is natural to hate that which causes fear and to want it to disappear or be destroyed. The response to threat has a physical and psychological component.
The physical response is evidenced by endocrine activity, which causes vasomotor and neuromuscular excitation. The face may turn pale or red; it becomes white with fear and purple with anger. The eyes may sparkle with rage, and the pupils may dilate with horror. Skeletal muscles may tense in preparation for running or resistance, or limbs may become paralyzed and powerless, leaving the victim frozen in place. Sometimes this type of response can be a defensive maneuver in a moment of danger. When a cobra is ready to strike, it is safer to freeze rather than run.
Another physical manifestation of this reaction is goose bumps - hair rises, pulse quickens, heartbeats appear, cold sweat flows, peristalsis accelerates - the intestines relax, aphonia or dysarthria appear, dry mouth, decreased appetite. The psychological emotion of anger or fear is closely related to these physical signs, but fear manifests itself earlier, is more persistent and lasts longer. Long-term fear is not just emotional distress. Since physiological functions are impaired, there is harm to health and well-being. Fear is the root of many psychosomatic diseases. It is true that the best way to get rid of fear is faith; confidence that breeds calm. But, since the physiological systems of the body are deeply involved in the process, there is often a need for suitable drug treatment.
Sedatives, drugs, tranquilizers, hallucinogens are not a solution to the problem. They can provide palliative care, but often make the situation even worse due to suppression and so-called side effects. They can cause serious addiction complications and even addiction.
Homeopathy plays a big role in the treatment of fears, and in its arsenal there are medicines that can calm panic and instill confidence in gloomy premonitions.
Fear of death
may be an important symptom of the disease.
Medicines that can help here are, in their usual state, strong poisons, which have fear of death among the symptoms they cause. Aconitum
, a fighter known as "the most poisonous plant in Britain", is of great value when fear turns into complete panic and frantic anxiety.
Arnica
is characterized by terror of imminent death, combined with unbearable pain and intense fear of being touched or even approached.
Arsenicum album
was once the most popular deadly poison;
the patient is so sure that he will die that he refuses medicine and food, despite feeling extremely exhausted. In addition, he experiences a thirst for small sips of warm or hot water, as well as severe mental and physical restlessness. Argentum nitricum
- anxious, hurried, sensitive patient.
When he falls ill, the fear of death is added to his usual fears and anxieties, so that, oddly enough, he can predict the hour or even the minute of his imminent death. Gelsemium
is so weak in mind and body that the fear of death completely disappears.
Muscle weakness, almost like paresis, and trembling are so strong that you want to ask the patient to stand up straight or even sit down so that the twitching stops. Phosphorus
is artistic by nature, full of fears, extremely impressionable, almost always afraid of dying when sick.
Secale
, ergot, a potent neuromuscular poison, involves anxiety and fear of death in its alarming combination of burning, bleeding, paresthesia and tendency to gangrene (Antonov's fire).
Fear of the dark
.
Essentially, it is the fear of the unknown. It is often instilled in sensitive children by a nanny or some other authority figure. For a receptive child, this empty world of darkness is populated with all sorts of terrible and evil inhabitants, from which only light and close people can save. Calcarea carbonica
children want company, are very nervous, fearful.
Sounds heard in the dark evoke all sorts of ominous associations. Representatives of Cannabis indica,
with their impressionability, sensitivity, and emotionality, enhanced tenfold, very easily develop a fear of the dark.
Camphor
patients are anxious and restless, almost to the point of frenzy, frightened and especially afraid if someone is nearby in the dark.
Lycopodium
wants to know where he is and what's going on.
He avoids the new, unusual and unknown, therefore he is too afraid of the darkness with its uncertainty and incomprehensibility. Medorrhinum
is in the midst of all fears.
Tends to flinch at the slightest sound; feeling of unreality, increased sensitivity to touch, intense fear of the dark. Phosphorus
is very excitable, impressionable, and is also afraid of the dark.
Pulsatilla
is so dependent on the company of others that she is naturally afraid of being alone in a dark room.
Stramonium
, the poisonous foul-smelling datura, deserves mention in this connection. There is a strong fear of the dark and a need for dim light in the bedroom at night. The fear of shiny objects looks quite strange. There is also a tendency to stumble in the dark or when walking with your eyes closed.
Fear of crossing the road or fear of leaving the house
.
This peculiar deviation is not so unusual. It can be combined with panic attacks, in which the patient suddenly develops severe trembling, cannot stand, sweats, cries, has a rapid pulse and strong inexplicable fear. The Lancet says of the condition: “It appears that there is no adequate treatment for these house-fearing women.” This seems too gloomy a statement for those cases where Aconite
, which has just such a picture, is suitable.
Some patients actually consider Aconite
to be powders or pills for “anti-panic.” This invaluable remedy not only has an analgesic effect, but also reduces fears.
Fear of failure, lack of self-confidence
.
This distressing emotion or mental trait does not indicate a lack of ability, but rather stems from a lack of self-confidence. Three medicines need to be mentioned in this connection. Anacardium
is characterized by sudden loss of memory, indecision, inability to come to a definite decision, and a complete lack of self-confidence.
The main characteristic of this remedy is to improve overall well-being while eating. Lycopodium
, clubmoss, very responsible, perfectionist, afraid of new things, if there is a risk of failure, lacks self-confidence, but usually copes well with everything when it begins to overcome difficulties.
Pulsatilla
is soft, obedient, afraid of not being liked, of failure.
Abundance of fears
.
Some poor souls are afraid of both; They may be afraid “they don’t know what.” The heading “full of fears” contains a large number of medicines, especially Arsenicum album
,
Calcarea carbonica
,
Causticum
,
Graphites
,
Lac caninum
,
Medorrhinum
,
Phosphorus
,
Tuberculinum
.
Medorrhinum
patient who “carries within himself almost every fear in the repertory: disease, fire, pain, madness, heights, flying, strangers, spiders, snakes, waste money on trifles, any little things, appearing in public.”
This is an extreme case. However, Medorrhinum
is a remedy for extreme cases.
Fear of feathers or flying or flapping objects
.
May be associated with fear of cats or dogs
, making one think of
Tuberculinum
.
Fear that someone is standing behind
, like a snake hiding in the grass forcing its victim to sit in the back seat of a bus and stick to the wall at a party.
The remedy here is Lachesis
.
Fear of knives
.
Fortunately, it doesn't happen often. It is a terrifying fear when he sees a knife or other weapon lying nearby, that he might be grabbed and attacked with it on someone, even a child. Associated with this fear are Arsenicum album
, in which “anxiety drives one to madness,” and
Nux vomica
, which is capable of sudden outbursts of aggression when greatly irritated.
Sometimes it can be Coffea
, if the worsening occurs without any reason, when she is in company and everyone around is cheerful and happy.
Obsessive fear
.
When fear arising from some frightening event continues to haunt and causes illness, Opium
. Of course, it is important to identify and reveal the cause of fear in each individual case. If the threat is real, then it must be faced with courage and common sense. If, as is often the case, the threat is imaginary, having no reason or relationship to real events, it must be comprehended and explained from a reasonable point of view. And the medicine can provide invaluable help in this.
