How can I cope with anxiety caused by tardive dyskinesia?

Question

Hello doctor,

If my movements are becoming more noticeable than the condition itself, what am I supposed to do? I am a 35-year-old male who developed tardive dyskinesia after several years on psychiatric medication.

The facial movements and tongue motions are difficult enough, but the anxiety has become overwhelming. I avoid restaurants, work presentations, and even family gatherings because I feel like people are staring at me.

How does a 35-year-old manage the severe anxiety that comes with tardive dyskinesia? My psychiatrist has already adjusted my medications, but I feel mentally trapped between worrying about the movements and worrying about what everyone else thinks.

Please guide.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Few people who use long-term antipsychotics develop tardive dyskinesia (TD). This condition arises due to the decreased number of dopamine receptors and their higher sensitivity.

To start off, one should remember that TD is a treatable condition, and in some cases, even reversible. However, depending on the individual, recovery from this condition may take quite a while – from several weeks to months.

Make sure to consult with your psychiatrist about the medication against tardive dyskinesia that you might take along with the main treatment if these medications haven't been prescribed yet.

We sometimes tend to believe that people judge us too much, which might make our symptoms worse. Anxiety and stress may cause additional aggravation of the TD condition. CBT is useful in case one experiences anxiety due to TD. Also, exercise, meditation, mindfulness practices, breathing techniques, as well as decreased consumption of caffeine and nicotine, will help with anxiety management.

Anxiolytics like Clonazepam, taken in divided doses for short periods of time, may relieve not only anxiety but also involuntary movements caused by TD.

I hope you find this information helpful.

If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out.

Thank you.