posted
How did you get through it without ending up in the mental hospital? I just started treatment, and at first, I was worried about not getting a herx reaction during the first 3 days of antibiotics.
I was worried that might mean I don't have lyme (still waiting on test results). I was clinically diagnosed, and i have all the symptoms of Neuropsychiatric Lyme, ALL of them.
But today, I was feeling agitated, anxious and depressed, but not too bad. Then I went to walmart and the lights and sounds and crowds made me incredibly anxious.
People looked strange, evil actually, and I felt totally detached from reality. I had horrible intrusive thoughts and images about hurting people in very violent ways. I felt the same way last month when I was hospitalized for psychosis.
I took a benzo and got through the trip and started feeling better. Now it's wearing off and the anxiety is coming back.
My question is, when you are herxing, does it help to tell yourself over and over that what you are experiencing is not "real," that it's the stupid little buggers? And also telling yourself that things will get better and you will have your mind back eventually?
Posts: 107 | From Hesperia, CA | Registered: Feb 2011
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Hey jenn...
Sorry to hear of your problems with herxing.
You said.. "I had horrible intrusive thoughts and images about hurting people in very violent ways."
I need to say to be sure to seek help when you are in this situation from a qualified health care professional.
As for what to do to try to control it...
I do have to remind myself there is a reason I am ill and I have to try to hang in there till it is over.
So yes, please do use that coping skill if it helps.
Be sure not to confuse disturbing violent mental images with the actual desire/plan/intention to do harm. They are not the same thing.
I would suggest you discuss how to deal with this with a cool head, with a therapist. These intrusive and disturbing images can be part of OCD. They also can be part of Lyme infections. After all, when you've got neurotoxins, you have got neurrotoxins. See the article above.
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chiquita incognita
Unregistered
posted
PS how to get through herxing:
Ask your doctor for a program to prepare your body to best deal with it. Sometimes liver cleansing, supplements can strenghten you so you deal with herxing better. If so your doctor needs to guide you through this.
Ask your doctor to guide you through the herx's. Ask for instructions what to do to cool out symptoms, in advance.
Some doctors suggest to go through with a torpedo, tough it out. Others take the approach that you go gently ,slowly. My LLMD is of the latter school of thought. He specializes in lyme and says that people still get well when going slowly.
He has dealt with psyche/lyme symptoms fyi and if you are interested feel free to pm me. He does mainstream or herbal therapy, or both combined, as is best for you.
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METALLlC BLUE
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6628
posted
Isolation. No amount of psyche therapy or medicine is going to change what takes place organically as your brain is attacked. You can attempt to detox but often people with psyche symptoms (from my experience) still don't respond well.
Give it a shot though, but trust me. The tried and true method of saving your relationships, and keeping your stress low will come from isolating and letting those who love you and understand know that you'll be "disappearing" for awhile. Forget everyone else who doesn't understand.
This is just my opinion based on my experience. Your life may provide entirely better options. If you can seize a better way, do it. Oh and let me know what it is so I can recommend it to others in the future!
-------------------- I am not a physician, so do your own research to confirm any ideas given and then speak with a health care provider you trust.
posted
Good medications (through a LL psychiatrist) and a good therapist and Magnesium, Kavinace, and a couple of other herbal calming agent. And you need to really believe that the herx is just that: that you will NOT feel crazy forever.
Posts: 360 | From New York | Registered: Oct 2009
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mojo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9309
posted
When I was first treating my Lyme - I was a ball of anxiety. I couldn't be alone yet I hated to be with anybody. I could only ( barely ) tolerate my twin sister, my husband and my daughter.
I was so anxious I couldn't eat or sleep. I was a mess.
I used Xanax and it took away about 25% or more of my herx - even my flu like symptoms. I mostly used it at night because I didn't want to use too much and I wanted to sleep. In hindsight I wish I'd used it more during the day,too.
I was able to wean down very quickly after I didn't need it so much (now I use Ativan at night to sleep and sometimes a Xanax during the day only if I need it).
A B Complex can be very helpful as can Magesium. Some "relaxing" herbal teas can really help, too.
Posts: 1761 | From USA | Registered: May 2006
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chiquita incognita
Unregistered
posted
I just read an article by an LLMD who says that cat's claw herb blocks neurotoxins, rapidly like within a day or two. You can read about it here:
Milk thistle also blocks liver toxins. Read more here: www.healthy.net go to Herbal Medicine Center and click on M then go to Milk Thistle.
I think we are all different. One person would say "isolate" and I would say just the opposite. Ask for *Tons* of support from friends and people on this forum who understand. I would suggest you will need lots of that support.
At least for me, if things get acute I worry too much when alone. Being with others brings sunshine.
Feel free to PM me I want to tell you something in person.
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