[Double]

I was traumatized by a particularly graphic YouTube video back in March, and mentally I just haven't been the same since. I've been recovering on my own alright, but I've recently developed a third round of "head pains" and I'm getting anxious. I'm not sure if talking with a Psychologist would do me any good, I feel that I may benefit from some medicinal help best. I've never seen a mental doctor for help, so I feel like I need some reassurance and advice before going in to see what I feel might be a Psychiatrist? Below are some of the troubles I've been experiencing, in no particular order.

pre-video:
1. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
2. Trichotillomania (eyelash plucking)
3. Mysophobia (fear of contamination)
4. troubles focusing

post-video:
1. Muscle pains in the rear portion of head (migraines?). When the pain comes, my hands feel compelled to touch the area. The pain can loom for days, and masturbation can sometimes be hard to focus attention to.
2. Sensitivities to noises (hyperacusis?). Anything loud and/or repetitive can drive me insane.
3. Sensitivities to visuals. Flickering images, anything visually macabre bothers me.
4. Visually disturbing dreams (monsters, evils, etc) wake me up more often. I also seem to have bad dreams more often.
5. I have seldom flashbacks of that video.
6. I have troubles enjoying 'mature' types of media: TV shows/movies (especially animes), and videogames. Anything that may not have bothered me before, I am much more sensitive to.
7. (in reference to 6) Anticipation of bothersome noises or visuals can be mentally fatiguing.

[volatile]

What the ** did you watch O_o.

How old are you? Do you have insurance? Really the best thing you can do right now is use google. Search for psychiatrists in your area and give them a call. If you have insurance you can go onto the insurance companies website and find doctors and therapists that they cover in your area.
Medication will only get you so far. You NEED to talk to someone, just saying.

[BlessedRhiannon]

You could start with a psychologist and they could recommend a psychiatrist for you to see. Alternately, start with a psychiatrist, and have them recommend a psychologist. However, from what you describe, I'd wager you'll probably want a combination of medication and talk or behavioral therapy of some sort.

I've found that the search tool on psychologytoday.com is very helpful. It's how I found my therapist, and she's been amazing. If you have insurance, you could also check your insurance doctor's listings to find someone near you.

If you're looking for a therapist, you would want to look for someone that specializes in anxiety and OCD. Also, consider what you would feel more comfortable with - a more skills based, therapist directed approach (CBT, DBT) or a more talk focused, client directed approach (psychodynamic therapy, etc)

If you decide to start with a psychiatrist, you may need a referral from your regular doctor, depending on your insurance plan.

[Perna]

Do you have a regular doctor? I would go to them and tell them about what you think you have pre-video and the additions after video and ask his advice. He would be able to recommend you to a psychiatrist or maybe even try some treatments, you and he if you preferred (because you already know/trust/have a good relationship with him, etc.).

[Double]

Yes I have Cigna insurance, and I actually have to vent because I was on the phone today for at least 5 hours calling around to 10 different locations and speaking with at least 15 different people.

Looking over the list of eligible Psychiatrists in-network with Cigna, I began to call a person of interest. A kind receptionist had answered and asked that I explain my situation. She told me the doctor in question was working at a totally different location, suggests that I call a Neurologist for my problems instead and gives me their number. Okay, so I call the office of a Neurologist who mentions that I would need a referral from a doctor of Internal Medicine to see anyone. I am then given the number to an Internal Medicine clinic nearby. I set up an appointment only to discover 15 minutes later that this clinic is actually a clinic of Family Practice. From there I call Cigna to inquire about the referral, who then transfer me to Cigna Behavioral, then to Cigna Health who then tell me I don't need a referral. With the help of Cigna, I call a couple different Neurologists only to find out their wait times are at least TWO EFFING MONTHS!! Wow, just wow. To top it all off, the term 'Neuropsychologist' that had been tossed around is causing me to already question my need for a Neurologist.

So lets see.. even through all that mess, I am still stuck at square one. I mean WTF, where does one get started? I'm constantly being lead in circles. I'm in pain, and am in need of help.

The pre-video stuff I can handle, it's the post-video stuff that bothers me most. I'm not interested in talking with a Psychologist about my problems, I've already explored that avenue a couple months ago but found that nobody was accepting new patients and/or was put on probation. What I really want is some medication to relieve the head pains I'm experiencing, and something to desensitize the things I've become sensitive to. Is that so hard to ask?

[Double]

Originally Posted by Perna

Do you have a regular doctor? I would go to them and tell them about what you think you have pre-video and the additions after video and ask his advice. He would be able to recommend you to a psychiatrist or maybe even try some treatments, you and he if you preferred (because you already know/trust/have a good relationship with him, etc.).

I've been to a family doctor a few times, but mostly for physical issues. After having moved further and further away from him over the years, visiting is not as convenient anymore. I've never had a bond that some people have with their doctors, but then again I'm a guy.

[volatile]

When you say head pains, do you mean headaches? Or is it emotional, psychological pain? If it's psychological then you don't need a neurologist.
What you need to do is find a new family doctor then if you are too far from your old one though usually they will refer you to a psychiatrist anyway for psychiatric meds. People on the phone usually have no idea what they are talking about especially if they are only secretaries. You need to figure out what you want to do and find a way to do it regardless of what they say on the phone.
Why would a term discourage you from seeing someone? and a psychiatrist doesn't talk to you. You see them, you tell them this or that and they give you pills. It never lasts longer than the first session which is usually like an hour and the other appointments are only for pill management. They generally do not care what is going on in your head and just want to drug you up. A therapist or psychologist are the ones who use psychotherapy to help your issues. All psychiatrists have a long wait list but if you want drugs then the wait will be worth it.

[Double]

Originally Posted by volatile

When you say head pains, do you mean headaches? Or is it emotional, psychological pain? If it's psychological then you don't need a neurologist.
What you need to do is find a new family doctor then if you are too far from your old one though usually they will refer you to a psychiatrist anyway for psychiatric meds. People on the phone usually have no idea what they are talking about especially if they are only secretaries. You need to figure out what you want to do and find a way to do it regardless of what they say on the phone.
Why would a term discourage you from seeing someone? and a psychiatrist doesn't talk to you. You see them, you tell them this or that and they give you pills. It never lasts longer than the first session which is usually like an hour and the other appointments are only for pill management. They generally do not care what is going on in your head and just want to drug you up. A therapist or psychologist are the ones who use psychotherapy to help your issues. All psychiatrists have a long wait list but if you want drugs then the wait will be worth it.

That's my problem, I almost don't know if I can wait for very long. The pain never seems to cease, even after rigorous exercise the pain never really seems to subside, it likes to loom. The 'head pain' I'm referring to is a very physical internal pain, I want to say that nerves of some sort are causing it. The pain seems to grow worse whenever I become sexually stimulated, and I haven't masturbated for a few days now because of it.

Because the pain feels centered around my brain, I'm a little afraid that my pain might be life threatening, and I really don't know who to see or what might speed up the process. No one can see me in a flash.. but worst case scenario, I'm sure the E.R. will.

I kinda feel like my best bet might be seeing a NeuroPsychiatrist, because I do feel that my pain might be linked between my psyche and my brain.

When I saw that video back in March, a certain "moment" in that video sent a shockwave of pain to an area of my head. I'm not totally familiar with what an aneurysm is, but I felt like I might have almost had one if I hadn't managed to calm down soon after. That term really scares me, and I don't really know if I want to talk about it very much in depth. I just want to find some help.

So far I've scheduled an appointment to see a neurologist on August 20th, but I may just call others to see if I can find someone sooner, and look into what a Neuropsychiatrist is.

[Double]

Went to the Emergency Room yesterday, had an anxiety attack. Seemed to stem from a lot of things, including the helplessness I was feeling in not being able to find anyone who could timely accept me as their patient, and the underlying fact that I did not exactly know what kind of help I needed.

At the hospital I was given a dosage of Alprazolam, and it calmed me down pretty hard. The best moment of my life was sitting in the hospital with that stuff running through my veins. Had a brain scan and everything checked out ok. I was afraid that I might have had pressure somewhere in my skull.

I was prescribed Xanex and given a few other documents to further help me, and was eventually sent home. I am very thankful for this visit because it gave me the direction I needed. Thank you God.

[healingme4me]

Family Practice and Primary Care CAN give referrals to Neurology!! Can you set up an appointment with your primary care physician, with your list of symptoms?
Then, their office should be able to schedule your appointment.
And having gone the primary/neurology route, to my own physical ailments, in time, neurology referred me to psychiatry, to help what was left over that couldn't be handled by my primary and neurologist!

Sorry you spent so much time and energy trying to book, all these appointments yourself.

Setting up a cluster of doctors that becomes your 'team', takes time!!

Hang in there!!

*hug*

Originally Posted by Double

Yes I have Cigna insurance, and I actually have to vent because I was on the phone today for at least 5 hours calling around to 10 different locations and speaking with at least 15 different people.

Looking over the list of eligible Psychiatrists in-network with Cigna, I began to call a person of interest. A kind receptionist had answered and asked that I explain my situation. She told me the doctor in question was working at a totally different location, suggests that I call a Neurologist for my problems instead and gives me their number. Okay, so I call the office of a Neurologist who mentions that I would need a referral from a doctor of Internal Medicine to see anyone. I am then given the number to an Internal Medicine clinic nearby. I set up an appointment only to discover 15 minutes later that this clinic is actually a clinic of Family Practice. From there I call Cigna to inquire about the referral, who then transfer me to Cigna Behavioral, then to Cigna Health who then tell me I don't need a referral. With the help of Cigna, I call a couple different Neurologists only to find out their wait times are at least TWO EFFING MONTHS!! Wow, just wow. To top it all off, the term 'Neuropsychologist' that had been tossed around is causing me to already question my need for a Neurologist.

So lets see.. even through all that mess, I am still stuck at square one. I mean WTF, where does one get started? I'm constantly being lead in circles. I'm in pain, and am in need of help.

The pre-video stuff I can handle, it's the post-video stuff that bothers me most. I'm not interested in talking with a Psychologist about my problems, I've already explored that avenue a couple months ago but found that nobody was accepting new patients and/or was put on probation. What I really want is some medication to relieve the head pains I'm experiencing, and something to desensitize the things I've become sensitive to. Is that so hard to ask?