Kesric

Hello

I am a long-time reader and a very sporadic poster. I am hoping that somebody has heard of a similar predicament:

During the last 7-8 years, I have observed these sympthoms, which have started out as simple annoyances, but have built up to a level that has changed my life completely:

-a general loss of awareness, and a feeling of always being on "automatic" I feel like I am a million miles away, and my actions are not occuring with direct involvement.
-a loss of senses, especially vision (I am not losing my eyesight, but I have been unable to take in most of my range of vision, only restricted to a small area. note that I can still react to events occuring out of the corner of my eye [like a ball aimed straight at me])
-a loss of attention span and concentration. I can't focus on anything for more than five seconds without "blanking out"
-a general feeling of numbness and tiredness, even though I now have to sleep 12-13 hours a night
-a loss of mental prowess, creativity, and memory. (basically- I feel like an idiot now, there was a time when I was considered very bright)
-a heat intolerance and a resistance to cold. It feels more like a heat that comes from within.

Now I walk around in a fog, always racing from one activity to the next, since I will lose my concentration so quickly. This situation is made worse by the fact that my mother is a new ager. As far as the field of real medicine goes, I have been diagnosed with depression and have been on several anti-depressants in the past. But, my mother has spent more time and energy diagnosing me through more esoteric means.(trust me-the word "esoteric" is an understatement for the wackiness here). She has dragged me to cranial-sacral Reiki therapists, soul-cleansers, and hypnotists. (among others).

I don't have many outlets left. This summer, I lost the ability to read books, though I can still struggle through short messages for about 30 seconds at a time. It takes a great effort even to write this message. For the past few years, I have been virtually unstimulated since every experience in life has been so dulled out. I have been unable to exercise my mind, since every worthwhile mental ability has become dormant to me over this entire process which started the better part of a decade ago.

Now, my mother takes me to a neural feedback specialist. The claim goes like this: go in for the $200 evauation session, then spend $50 a session "retraining your mind." My digital EEG says that my alpha brain waves spike every 5-7 seconds(which should only happen during sleep), thus destroying my concontration. They claim that if one stares at a computer screen which displayes brainwave activity for 30 minute sessions, and wills the brainwaves to return to their normal state while hearing an audio reward cue, they will be cured. Of course I am dubious at best, but my mother insists that I continue. It's not that I don't trust the EEG, I don't trust the "treatment." At least this lady isn't telling me that I'm a 500,000 year old spirit or that I was abducted by aliens. Still, I want an opinion from the "real" doctors.

I honestly don't know which direction to go in next. I'm a sophomore at the local community college who still lives at home. I'm thinking of just dropping out, since it is almost impossible to learn now. My phsychiatrist has prescribed some simulation called Adderall, but my mother will not allow me to take any medication since my mother claims those doctors are "evil and just want to stuff pills down everybody's throats). I long since lost my circle of friends and everything else that is interesting in life. Being in Kansas doesn't help, either. (one of the last people I still talk to is a Christian fundamentalist who supports the people who want evolution out of schools again- looks like that issue is coming back) ...and, my mother believes that I have "lost my soul" since I am an atheist. (she's a good person, but it's hard to have conversations with her since she thought the sun was closer to Earth than the moon).

Any input would be appreciated. My mind is shot from writing this and I must take a nap...

-----Eric
"Kesric"

Viti

How old are you? I suggest you go to your school counselor and tell him/her that your mother won't get you proper medical treatment and you have severe symptoms affecting you tremendously...that can be considered abuse in many jusrisdictions and you can get some real help with a court order if necessary. I can't imagine taking a sick kid to a bunch of crystal wavers...thats unacceptable!

I am moving this to Science and Skepticism where the medical types hang out.

Viti

I see you are in college, so you must be over 18. Your mother can't tell you whether you can take meds or not now. Do you have medical insurance? Go to a doctor by yourself that is covered on it. Ask the school to recommend someone...you may have a serious health issue...don't let it continue!

LateApex

Eric,

I have a sister who takes Adderall and swears by it. Give it a shot. If you are still on your parent's health plan, but are over 18, go see the docs you think you need to see and leave the quacks to your mom.

One note...I can recall some feelings like what you describe when I was in college. Mostly because I was taking too many hours in the semester. And it is somewhat normal for teens and young adults to want lots of sleep...but probably not to the amounts that you indicate. I seem to recall getting 8hrs per night and adding 1-2 hrs of naps in the day during the first couple of years of college.

Hope it works out and things begin to get better...

pmurray

"Neural feedback specialist"? Jesus fucking christ on a stick! The main damage that these people do is not just the treatments themselves (poisonous herbs, dangerous spinal "realignments"), but steering people away from treatments that might work.

Go see a real doctor. Go to your local medical centre. Go to a hospital. See a person with six years (and more) of proper goddamn university education. Describe your symptoms. Get real treatment.

Ignore your mother's stupid ideas. She has no clue - getting her opinions from astrology columns, no doubt. There is no real help for you there. Go get some. Explain your situation (dumbass mother) to the medical professional. They will understand, if you are a minor. Do it, and soon.

RoddyM

I suggest checking your blood sugar. It's not meant to be a trite, smart ass explanation that "trivializes" your problem but can explain why some peoples real and complex problems can become overwhelming.

deano

dood,it sounds like you have a food allergy,or adverse reactions to food colourants and preservatives.

try eating only healthy home made food for a few weeks and see if theirs and difference.

also go to a nutritionist and have a word,and get some allergy testing done.

do you do much physical exercise?,if not,play some sports,they are great for energy levels and the immune system.

good luck

LateApex

This is a very good advice...low blood sugar (Hypoglycemia) can create similar effects to what you describe.

Regardless...go see a real doctor.

vagrant

Have your thyroid checked. Its involved in controlling temperature and metabolism. Imbalances can affect concentration, etc.

In more direct terms...go see a doctor.

Godless Dave

It could also be a neurological disorder. A bunch of geeks on a website are not qualified to diagnose you, and neither is your crystal-communing mother. You must see a doctor!