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Latest Q&As
When Psychedelics Make Things Worse
After a bad shroom trip a month ago, someone describes ongoing heightened anxiety, panic attacks, feeling numb and detached from reality, and wants to know how to feel normal again.
Answered by Dr. Richard Schultz
Next steps
After a traumatic LSA psychedelic experience four weeks ago, a reader describes ongoing panic attacks, depersonalisation, suicidal thoughts, and fear, with a past history of anxiety, eating disorders, cyclothymia, and recent grief.
Answered by Jim LaPierre
How can I help my little brother addict with suicidal thoughts.
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
Answered by William Anderson
Next steps
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
Answered by Jim LaPierre
Tripping Can Be Traumatic
A reader has had social anxiety for almost 14 years since a bad mushroom experience at 21, has tried Lexapro and Buspirone with mild success, and asks about medication options and whether micro-dosing mushrooms could help.
Answered by Dr. Mark Abrahams
Serious Predicament
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
Answered by Dr. Mark Abrahams
Finding a Higher Power
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. Schoo
Answered by Jim LaPierre
Faith Based Recovery Specialists
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 rec
Answered by Jim LaPierre
Tips for looking after yourself whilst caring for a depressed family member
Caring for someone who is depressed can be exhausting, demanding, and rewarding, all at the same time. As a support person you may feel the need to be the emotionally strong one at all times, but this can come at the expense of your own wellbeing. For this reason it’s really important that you look
Answered by Penny Bell
Severe PTSD
Hi Eric, Thank you for your question as it's one that a lot of folks struggle with. My experience is that a lot of us seek solace and serenity in alcohol especially when we live with PTSD. It's only a matter of time before what helps starts to hurt and it's a downward spiral from there. Most of the
Answered by Jim LaPierre
Is suboxone helping anxiety or contributing?
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 pron
Answered by Yerachmiel Donowitz
Grounded or High: A Stoner's Dilemma
Dear Nthrax, Thank you very much for addressing your question to me. Or should I say predicament? Based on your detailed adventures with substance use and experimentation, one thing is clear; you have very mixed feelings about your very mixed experiences. On the one hand, you enjoy pursuing a drug-f
Answered by Dr. Richard Schultz
Party Panic: How Substance Abuse Triggers Anxiety
After a frightening bad reaction to psilocybin, a reader developed persistent social anxiety and a sense of not being themselves, and asks how to recover and feel normal again.
Answered by Dr. Richard Schultz
Uncertainty in diagnosis
Hi there and thank you for your question. There's a lot of missing info here so I'm guessing a bit First, does her counselor and med manager agree that they are treating the same conditions? Does she find meeting with the counselor helpful? (sometimes therapists are like shoes - you have to try a fe
Answered by Jim LaPierre
False hope vs. real hope
Hope, My heart goes out to you You feel that having invested so much in this relationship, you can't just walk away and have so little return on your investment. I'm sorry - whether he is drinking or not, he is an insensitive and selfish man. It's incredible that he got sober - I hope he stays that
Answered by Jim LaPierre
Getting off of Suboxone,
On one hand it sounds like you are taking very little. On the other hand, the mere fact that you are asking the question, you realize a little bit is still significant. You are correct. The only way to "put it away" is to first determine is it doing anything for you now other than preventing you fro
Answered by Yerachmiel Donowitz
It's ok to be angry
A 54-year-old survivor of childhood abuse, in recovery from opiate/benzo addiction, asks whether it's common for adult children of alcoholics to feel anger and panic toward a non-offending parent, and how to resolve it.
Answered by Jim LaPierre
The Lightbulb Has To Want To Change: Motivation For Treatment of Health Anxiety
Hello and thank you for addressing your question to me. I sympathize greatly with this challenging situation, for both you and your son. As a parent, I can imagine how painful it is to see your son struggle and suffer, and to find that there are such significant limitations in what you can do for hi
Answered by Dr. Richard Schultz
Panic attack after starting Effexor
Although drugs such as Effexor are prescribed for anxiety, it is not uncommon for the serotonin based antidepressants to precipitate serious panic attacks when they are first started. The marijuana probably also played a role in this panic attack, as both the marijuana and the Effexor affect the aut
Answered by Dr. Stuart Shipko
What is he thinking?
Hi, thank you for connecting with me. There's a country music song from a few years back in which the vocalist sings, "I know what I was feeling, but what was I thinking?" Your spouse seems to be on a bender and from your description, I would guess that his drinking is long term and perhaps has been
Answered by Jim LaPierre
Confidentiality and Therapy: What Are The Limits?
Hello, and thank you for asking this very important question. Limited as you may feel in your ability to provide her with comfort and support, your friend is indeed fortunate to have you in her corner. It is extremely unfortunate but quite common for individuals who have experienced sexual assault o
Answered by Dr. Richard Schultz
Adolescents and marijuana
A worried parent describes their nearly-18-year-old son smoking weed and feeling blamed and helpless, unsure what to do to avoid losing him.
Answered by Jim LaPierre
Adolescence and marijuana
Hi there and thank you for writing to me! I would encourage you to talk openly and honestly with your son about marijuana. For many adolecents, marijuana use can be a sign that something is amiss - but perhaps not in the way you might think. Many folks use marijuana to medicate anxiety, Attention De
Answered by Jim LaPierre
Online Counseling
Hi Susan, Thank you so much for reaching out and connecting with me! I am happy for you that you've achieved a period of sobriety and being a "dry drunk" means that you've yet to make other changes in your life. I am biased in that I see 12 step programs as very effective, free and widely available
Answered by Jim LaPierre
Losing Family and Friends to Alcoholism
Hello Scott, I don't know of any research in the area of loss particularly to alcoholism, however, considering addiction with the 'disease model' alcoholism affects so much of the body, organs, brain, etc are affected that many people die of related causes to the disease. There are many reasons peop
Answered by Jeannie Cameron, LMHC
Post Acute Withdrawal
Hi Melissa, Thank you for reaching out and connecting! First and foremost, congratulations! What you're doing is heroic and healthy. Post Acute Withddrawal (PAW) can last up to the first year of being clean and sober. Your body, mind and spirit continue to experience healing and a high degree of cha
Answered by Jim LaPierre
career guidance
Walaikumassalaam mahhum.. may Allah bless you Many students go through similar phases... I guide student on the basis of their interest, skill, aptitude,personality etc. Only then a student Will be able to make a informed choice....aptitude implies your inherent inclination towards a particular area
Answered by Halima Sadiya
always respond, never react
Greetings and thank you for your question. I agree that your employers have a very poorly conceived plan and frankly, it feels like their primary concern is limiting their liability. Few problems with that, obviously many harms have been done - some allegedly and some known. Performing an interventi
Answered by Jim LaPierre
Bring Her Home Now??
Thank you for the question. WIthout knowing anymore than what you have mentioned I cna't give youa definitive answer. However, you know her better than most so you need to ask yourself: 1. Is she reaching out for help? 2. Is she asking you to bring her home? 3. Is she looking to help herself when sh
Answered by James Cloughley
Patterns
Hello and thank you for connecting with me and sharing your experience. The pattern you've described is very common and as you're seeing, it tends to get worse over time. What we most often see is a gradual decline in the person's ability to function. To not participate in his patterns is primarily
Answered by Jim LaPierre