I often forget things with anxiety and behavioral change. How to deal with it?

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You seem to have a mixed anxiety-depressive disorder, This is very common and about 10-15 percent of people have this problem. It is also very easily treatable. You will need to visit a psychiatrist and he will prescribe you SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) type of medicines such as Escitalopram 10 mg, or Fluoxetine 20 mg, etc., which will help with your problem.

It basically happens when some neurotransmitters such as serotonin reduce in your brain leading to a problem with handling the day to day stresses of life.

Medicines are usually given for two to four months and then tapered off slowly and stopped. In addition to the medicines, you can also undergo a few sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy from a clinical psychologist. Also, do consider doing deep breathing exercises or progressive muscle relaxation daily.

In case you are having problems with sleeping you can try some sleep hygiene methods like:

1. Maintain good temperature, no noise or light.

2. One hour prior to bed, wind down and try reading or music.

3. Do not use the laptop, TV or phone one hour prior.

4. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, or tobacco two hours prior to sleeping.

5. Avoid exercises three hours before sleeping and take warm milk at bedtime.

6. Go to bed only when sleepy and avoid other activities on bed.

7. Use bed only for sleeping or sex.

8. If you do not get sleep, do not toss and turn, get up go to another room, walk about for 10-15 minutes and come and lie down. See for 10 minutes, if not sleepy go out again.

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Hi,

Welcome back to our portal.

Yes, what you are experiencing is called a stressor. Anything that gives you stress. That reduces the neurotransmitter serotonin in your brain and reduces your capacity to handle stress. This leads to problems and symptoms like headaches, excessive and anxious thoughts, loss of concentration, irritability, low mood, etc. That is why you should take medicines which will help you with resolving these symptoms. Once these symptoms are gone, you will be able to make better decisions and make better choices.

Also, it would be worthwhile considering to start some medicines for your partner to reduce his drug abuse. Please visit a local psychiatrist and he will give you medicines for the same. Once you are better, you can either take your partner for treatment or sometimes, even some medicines can be given to your partner in food or water which are colorless, tasteless and odourless if he refuses to take medicines.

But all that is for later. First, you need to get well for this. And that will happen as soon as medicines are started. Medicines like SSRI's will take about a week or 10 days to start taking effect. They are to be taken for three or four months and then slowly tapered off. It is not life long, but taking them for a short period will surely help with your problem.

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I can give you the names of the medicine and dosage, but the prescription would not be valid in your country. If you have a local general physician, maybe you can ask him to prescribe it for you?

I would start you with Escitalopram 10 mg daily at night once. It should be enough to help with your problems. It should be taken for three or four months and then tapered off.

For your partner, I would suggest 1.5 mg of Haloperidol dispersible and 2 mg of Trihexyphenydyl dispersible. Or if both are not available then Olanzapine 5 mg dispersible.

It should be given to him once a day at night which, either in food or water dissolved, if he refuses to take them. It will reduce his irritability, aggression, and stubbornness. Once those are reduced u can take him to the hospital for detoxification treatment for his drug, depending on what drug he uses. If he is using alcohol, Disulfiram can be given. If he is using opioids, then Naloxone can be used.

Hi,

Welcome back to our portal.

Also, if you have difficulty sleeping, please follow the sleep hygiene measures I have mentioned above. Many people with your problem have trouble with sleep and hence I have mentioned those above.