Dealing with Anxiety..OCD.. and side effects of smoking

[Someone here]

I have made several threads in the past here that I struggle with anxiety and panic attacks.  And also about my addiction to smoking cigarettes. Thank god the panic attacks have vanished.  They were a feeling of I'm about to lose my mind and my sanity and losing control over my whole body and collapsing .I don't want to get into details in describing what a panic attack is to not trigger other healthy people on here.

So..like I said I'm cured now from panic attacks .all thanks to the medication I started taking a few years ago up until today (never missing a single day )..namely:

 Invega..  prozac.. Rivotril .. Zyprexa .

my therapist prescribed them to me .and I'm taking them consistently since 3 years ago. 

However I still from time to time get anxious . I'm experiencing social anxiety whenever I go outdoors to do a simple task like going to grocery to pick some milk I feel tensed around people.  When I go to sleep I feel anxiety and I experience a feeling of difficulty getting up from bed .I wake up at like 7 AM but I slack off and stay in bed doing nothing until 10 AM. It's like I want to keep sleeping for days and not see the light . I feel tired of daily routine .as if I'm 70 years old or something. 

Another problem I'm facing is OCD . I'm not gonna say what exactly is the OCD about or what is the thing that I'm obsessed about because I think it's embarrassing..but I'm confident to say I have OCD around a certain thing .I keep checking that thing repeatedly and unnecessarily even though my rational mind knows that there is no point in doing so but I can't help but check it out . So I need help with that as well .

The final proplem is I stopped smoking for two months now ...no cigarettes..no Cigars ...no nicotine patch ..no vaping etc.. yet I still feel burning sensation in my chest around the lungs and heart area . I know 100% it's the side effects of years of smoking . But like I said I stopped smoking completely for idk maybe two months almost (I don't really count the days ) and I don't plan to ever get back to smoking again. Nobody obviously wants lungs cancer or heart attack .

So..yeah ...these are some things I'm going through and I'm looking for advice .if anyone here can help me out please go ahead. 

Thanks !

Edited March 17 by Someone here

[Grateful Dead]

With all the medication, I imagine it's hard to get out of bed. And all of this "just" for anxiety and panic attacks, I honestly think it's excessive, but I don't really want to question your psychiatrist's treatment; he certainly knows your situation better.

But have you tried other non-medicinal forms of therapy too? For example, various behavioral therapy techniques? That seems more appropriate for your situation.

And do you exercise? I think that would definitely be helpful for recovering from the side effects of smoking for so long. It might also help a bit with your anxiety and panic.

[Someone here]

1 hour ago, Grateful Dead said:

With all the medication, I imagine it's hard to get out of bed. And all of this "just" for anxiety and panic attacks, I honestly think it's excessive, but I don't really want to question your psychiatrist's treatment; he certainly knows your situation better.

Yes one of the nasty side effects of these pills is drowsiness and feeling idle. Could be a reason for my lack of energy. 

But I absolutely need them . I was literally suicidal because of my panic attacks.  As I described they feel like you are literally going to die right now or worse . But I'm healed right now . Still the anxiety throughout the day. I live a very stressful life . 

1 hour ago, Grateful Dead said:

But have you tried other non-medicinal forms of therapy too? For example, various behavioral therapy techniques? That seems more appropriate for your situation.

No I haven't.  I try just to distract myself with watching sports or playing video games or oversleeping. 

What methods do you suggest?  Sorry I don't even know what that is .

1 hour ago, Grateful Dead said:

And do you exercise? I think that would definitely be helpful for recovering from the side effects of smoking for so long. It might also help a bit with your anxiety and panic.

Yes I do . I lift weights and heavy shit like full  gas tanks on my shoulders to gain muscles and build a strong physique. But no cardio or stretching or anything that can make the blood flow to all parts of my  body equally . Actually If I take a speed walk across the street I feel my breathing is about to stop and my chest hurting me . Maybe I just need to do a scan on my chest to see if I have some tumour or something but I'm scared for obvious reasons. 

[Grateful Dead]

59 minutes ago, Someone here said:

But I absolutely need them . I was literally suicidal because of my panic attacks.  As I described they feel like you are literally going to die right now or worse . But I'm healed right now . Still the anxiety throughout the day. I live a very stressful life . 

Yes, that's understandable, it's best to continue with your medication while you look for other solutions.

59 minutes ago, Someone here said:

What methods do you suggest?  Sorry I don't even know what that is .

It's about changing your behavior, thoughts, and emotions through targeted techniques. In short, conditioning.

I don't want to give specific recommendations right now, as these life situations are usually complex. However, if you don't have the opportunity to work with a good behavioral therapist, I would recommend ChatGPT. Describe your situation and your problems to the AI as precisely as possible, and then let it suggest behavioral therapy measures. I've tested ChatGPT in this regard and am really impressed. For people who can work with it, I think it's better than a mediocre therapist.

1 hour ago, Someone here said:

Maybe I just need to do a scan on my chest to see if I have some tumour or something but I'm scared for obvious reasons. 

Yeah, get checked. It is better to know if something is wrong, then you can take action against it.

[Princess Arabia]

I wish you well, my friend. Didn't realize you were taking so many medications and suffered anxiety attacks. Good to see the meds are working and extremely glad to see you've managed to quit smoking . I know how much of a challenge that was for you. I think you'll be fine overall as I think you're a strong person inside and out. I wish you the best. Hang in there and stay strong. You got this.

[UnbornTao]

Obviously, I don't know the cause, but some of it might be withdrawal effects from quitting smoking. Quitting a drug like that isn't pretty -- even with coffee you can experience withdrawal symptoms for weeks or months. Congrats on your achievement, though -- keep it up!

This isn’t professional advice, and it is rather simplistic, but it might help to some degree. It is about some foundational things:

• If you consume caffeine and processed sugar, consider quitting the former and drastically reducing the latter.
• Eat more frequently throughout the day. I've noticed that fasting (just skipping a meal or two) sometimes increases my anxiety. Fasting + drinking coffee on an empty stomach are sure to increase my anxiety levels.
• Move and exercise: Yoga, Tai Chi, walking, running, swimming, weightlifting--any activity or sport will do. Ideally one that is relatively intense, and a couple that are more lightweight.
• Limit screen time, and avoid blue light exposure at least an hour before bed.
• Look into potential supplements or vitamins (research and consult your doctor). I've heard magnesium is beneficial for this, and I personally like L-Theanine.

Edited March 28 by UnbornTao

[Someone here]

1 hour ago, Grateful Dead said:

Yes, that's understandable, it's best to continue with your medication while you look for other solutions.

Definitely. I feel like I'm back to square one in my progress from healing if I just stopped taking those pills even for a day or if lowered the dosage .

1 hour ago, Grateful Dead said:

It's about changing your behavior, thoughts, and emotions through targeted techniques. In short, conditioning.

I don't want to give specific recommendations right now, as these life situations are usually complex. However, if you don't have the opportunity to work with a good behavioral therapist, I would recommend ChatGPT. Describe your situation and your problems to the AI as precisely as possible, and then let it suggest behavioral therapy measures. I've tested ChatGPT in this regard and am really impressed. For people who can work with it, I think it's better than a mediocre therapist.

That's a good idea . But I don't think it's better than a human therapist . Just the face-to-face interaction with another human can be all you need to have the highlight of your day .

My therapist isn't mediocre. He is brilliant. I talk to him about everything and all the wacky stuff that goes in my mind .this in itself can be healing . Notice I withheld some things in OP because I don't want to sound vulnerable . Because at the end of the day I'm here interacting with my keyboard not with people who know me .

This isn't to downgrade or write off your advice man .thank you for your advice .🙏

1 hour ago, Grateful Dead said:

Yeah, get checked. It is better to know if something is wrong, then you can take action against it

That's correct. And the sooner the better .I'm getting checked soon. That's the better decision to take .

[Someone here]

1 hour ago, Princess Arabia said:

I wish you well, my friend. Didn't realize you were taking so many medications and suffered anxiety attacks. Good to see the meds are working and extremely glad to see you've managed to quit smoking . I know how much of a challenge that was for you. I think you'll be fine overall as I think you're a strong person inside and out. I wish you the best. Hang in there and stay strong. You got this.

Thank you for the kind uplifting words . 

[Someone here]

53 minutes ago, UnbornTao said:

Obviously, I don't know the cause, but some of it might be withdrawal effects from quitting smoking. Qutting a drug like that isn't pretty -- even with coffee you can experience withdrawal symptoms for weeks or months. Congrats on your achievement, though -- keep it up!

This isn’t professional advice, and it is rather simplistic, but it might help to some degree. It is about some foundational things:

• If you consume caffeine and processed sugar, consider quitting the former and drastically reducing the latter.
• Eat more frequently throughout the day. I've noticed that fasting (just skipping a meal or two) sometimes increases my anxiety. Fasting + drinking coffee on an empty stomach are sure to increase my anxiety levels.
• Move and exercise: Yoga, Tai Chi, walking, running, swimming, weightlifting--any activity or sport will do. Ideally one that is relatively intense, and a couple that are more lightweight.
• Limit screen time, and avoid blue light exposure at least an hour before bed.
• Look into potential supplements or vitamins (research and consult your doctor). I've heard magnesium is beneficial for this, and I personally like L-Theanine.

Totally could be withdrawal from smoking . I used to smoke since 18 yo. That's 9 fucking years of "raping" my health . But I have decided..enough is enough . Pray for me.

Totally relate about the fasting and eating more . Smoking regularly kills the taste receptors in the tongue Which makes food taste bad or not so delicious and so smokers tend to eat less and they are skinny like a stick . But I'm healing my appetite. 

Good point about working out. The paradox though is that my lungs hurt if I run or speed walk .

Thanks for the advice mate .

[Sabth]

8 hours ago, Someone here said:

Yes one of the nasty side effects of these pills is drowsiness and feeling idle. Could be a reason for my lack of energy. 

But I absolutely need them . I was literally suicidal because of my panic attacks.  As I described they feel like you are literally going to die right now or worse . But I'm healed right now . Still the anxiety throughout the day. I live a very stressful life . 

No I haven't.  I try just to distract myself with watching sports or playing video games or oversleeping. 

What methods do you suggest?  Sorry I don't even know what that is .

Yes I do . I lift weights and heavy shit like full  gas tanks on my shoulders to gain muscles and build a strong physique. But no cardio or stretching or anything that can make the blood flow to all parts of my  body equally . Actually If I take a speed walk across the street I feel my breathing is about to stop and my chest hurting me . Maybe I just need to do a scan on my chest to see if I have some tumour or something but I'm scared for obvious reasons. 

@Someone here Maybe you need to smoke more.  

[Grateful Dead]

9 hours ago, Someone here said:

That's a good idea . But I don't think it's better than a human therapist . Just the face-to-face interaction with another human can be all you need to have the highlight of your day .

My therapist isn't mediocre. He is brilliant. I talk to him about everything and all the wacky stuff that goes in my mind .this in itself can be healing . Notice I withheld some things in OP because I don't want to sound vulnerable . Because at the end of the day I'm here interacting with my keyboard not with people who know me .

This isn't to downgrade or write off your advice man .thank you for your advice .🙏

No, you are right. If you have a brilliant therapist, this is definitely better than ChatGPT. But then it could still be a useful complement.

[Sabth]

And this one , you know like if you're approaching death. Moving towards death. Like no interest in life anymore 

I was into this a while ago. But now idk what's good anymore. I still find myself in a filthy situation unable to do nothing today. No and it's over for me. 

It's basically them not wanting to practice the religion again anymore but only I was affected. It's only affecting me and none of them actually this thing goes against their

 

 

 

.

 

 

[Someone here]

@Sabth I don't understand what you're saying .

[Raze]

try when therapy doesn’t work by Shelly Young 

[Sabth]

You're describing is as if you’re going to die. heading towards death. Thats my first impression. But after reading your replies i thought you need to smoke still. A sudden withdrawal of your routine. *

i never knew that men are intentionally suicidal like killing themselves in front of me. Like eating a sweet thing, i saw this in my dream. Even irl it was meant to kill.

actually after i write this it was raining and i would be distracted as hell

*this one . It felt like a bait.

 

You're describing is as if you’re going to die. heading towards death. Thats my first impression. But after reading your replies i thought you need to smoke more . A sudden withdrawal of your routine. *

*This one , i could go on and on but it felt like a bait. Maybe the ones who are close to me 

What?

Idk what im saying .

 

 

 

 

i would hv explained to you how i was never truly asleep until when im 26. When ive been put to sleep. 
 

 

[Hojo]

I used to have panic attack i had several mental breakdown because of it over years and years. I started taking pill for it 1 month and then said fuck this. I keep having them and I saw that the panic attack was a good thing and that I was being highly intelligent by having them. The answer is you are scared to not move cause you are so connected to God if you dont move you are going to have a panic attack because you mentally die faster than average people. It means you are aware of God unconsciously and everytime you have a second to breathe your soul automatically is pointing at God.

Edited March 28 by Hojo

[Sabth]

 

/

I want you to be my servant.  The last thing I thought about yesterday was that I want a new phone from you. Its been months and too long that 

But , can you give it to me? Are you rich? I hv also thought about (the last time im here) that you should hv a child OR even if you're married , or for you to get married and have a child and your whole family would be my servant. If you married an indian too. It doesn't matter. Have a child. Thats what I say some time ago. (Things that would be good for you) And if you're alone that too would be good. 

I wont accept when you come with only your child (if any) or if your family was separated. Its either whole or alone. Id be alone too.

C ☑️

/

 

And also , I also would have felt weird to have @someonehere now . After i write this thinking about it. Yesterday? No the day before yesterday.. because things are just a little different now. And we/ people have becomes one here every soul had merged and shared with each other. Dead. Which is the things i want to prevent before. God forbid i became one with them . (It is also against my religion and i dont (consent) allow it)

 

Back then when my brother arent here and i need a lot of boys or guys to counter the force. (Having a brother is equal to having a school of boys-only-school boys) i literally would rather have a lot of non suckers boys in my room (if i were to do something non religious by the way which they already did) rather than having others killed me. 

It would be the right thing to do but now ... 

Its over. 

I hold in me 

something greater than all of my brother's combined. Having access to me is equal to having access to (my fam and relatives . This is crucial because they kill) all of those 20x years worth of things.  of connections. 

And you know , these are people who didnt went to school and just wanted to go to school. Or people who want to download an intelligence without ever having to learn a thing. Or get a spirit without ever having to seek or search or travelled. I actually thinking of having access to me is equal to having access to all of my connections so to old people thats (supposed to be ) a batch or another millions of school of people or girls my age. Wasn't pretty. I'm glad that i am who i am. But these , are they predators? They are people older than me. 

(28yo)

Right now, I'll be honest , i no longer felt anything. My soul or spirit had becomes one it no longer pulled me. And before, years before i felt it more strongly

 . That its killing me still wasnt (or was it) as bad as last year. And they do this because they believe they needed my spirit to create a child. Or just for themselves. Not knowing that it doesnt have to. Scarcity mindset. They'd go after all of girls or women who d still have something good in them. They would named their newborn after all of those girls. 

Youngest cousin youngest daughter. Who did they not attacked? Next it will be -. They also would love all of the non religious things as if they hated their. Religion. Like my interest are very personalized. I never told anyone what i liked or disliked or my preferences. I wouldnt say that this forum arent guilty. But they seems to want it and most of all 

I saw their state back then was like indo? Most of all , they want to be the ones who gets into my mind. They want to replace, everything that is ever in my mind or where im currently at for however long that is , with themselves.  That's it. And it's very ugly. If before this , i was made of such and such a thing, they want me to be made of them or filled with themselves.  

 

 

And when my siblings came i would already have become a different person. 7/5/2025 4:00AM 

And the last thing i want from @Someone here is a phone because this one that im using can be accessed by (all).  (My other device broke sometime ago and yet another device a long time ago) 

Maybe who knows what will happen next. 

 

Whatever that im saying is very personal and im not talking about the bigger things(did I?). 

 

18/4/2025

.

I am being watched. Posting on this forum affects my real life immediately. So if you see me being weird or talking weirdly or not being honest or transparent it was because of that. 

 

I have f'ed up my life. Because my sources or resources are my family and my relatives . And my place are a different place. And while I'm here , I'm talking to the world (or whatever that is) and while my physical body are dependent on those. Like only mm and some of my dad and the physical distance I'm in. (World) . You know because those fam or relatives keeps on being resurrected . But I have no contact with them or I don't have any of their contact. I have went out of all the group because it felt like I am being sucked. I thought it would stop if I do that but it still happened. And now or last year it was no longer that life threatening or deathly but (read:they still is giving me their help/ portion) the world is going on. I don't even know what's happening now because there are people who want you /your family dead. 

And this isn't anyone different or far. 

We all agree. We would only..

I'm writing this because I'm thinking of something. All of these aren't important? 

 

Wanting to take ownership of me to be able to 

 

Reality can be infinite

 

/

 The last thing that saw or up to was seeing me at a beach at night with a glimpse or presence of my other brother. And someone else. 

Edited May 7 by Sabth

[Someone here]

@Sabth wtf

[Emerald]

My daughter has OCD. She takes Prozac for it, and it's really helped her as her intrusive thoughts aren't quite as paralyzing as they were before.

And since looking into OCD more deeply for her sake, I've realized that I have it as well (the Pure O version of OCD)... though I haven't sought diagnosis.

I wish I had known that as a teenager because I didn't know what was going on with me because I had this crippling fear of harming people emotionally and physically... either accidentally or on purpose. So, I had Harm OCD as a teenager... and then I also had Religious Scrupulosity OCD as a child. And there was also this sense of needing perfect knowledge of good and bad to ensure that I'm good... and a checking and re-checking to seek truth.

And it was all based around having to check and check and check to make sure that I'm not a bad person... which came to me in different forms over the years. And I still have it now... though it comes up in different ways.

My experience has been that OCD attaches itself to whatever the most feared outcomes would be... and there's this anxious checking to try to make sure that those feared outcomes don't come about and to even give a sense of control over things outside of my control through checking when intrusive thoughts arise.

Like my major fear was about being bad person and being rejected socially because of it... and having to check and check and check to make sure I wasn't bad. But it can be different for different people.

Is that something that you've experienced as well, regarding using the checking to try to avoid certain dreaded outcomes or to get certainty that the dreaded outcomes won't arise?

And do you think the avoidance of dreaded outcomes relates to the anxiety you experience when you're around people in public?

Also, I used to get a lot of panic attacks when I was a teenager and I used to smoke weed... which really exacerbated my OCD tendencies and put me in this really paranoid and fearful state, even when I wasn't smoking. 

I haven't smoked weed in 16 years or so because it really messes with me.

But I currently work with Hapé a couple times per week.

Hapé is a ceremonial tobacco that grows in the Amazon rainforest, and it helps to disconnect from the constant mind-spinning and grounds you more in 3-d, physical relatity.

It makes me wonder if you're using the tobacco for the same effect... but from a different frame of mind, more like a self-medication.

Edited May 6 by Emerald

[Yimpa]

6 minutes ago, Emerald said:

My experience has been that OCD attaches itself to whatever the most feared outcomes would be

It also attaches yourself to the ones you love the most.

For example, I taken a blow with Harm OCD towards my partner and myself.

Edited May 6 by Yimpa