Psychiatryness

[athanasius]

I did make it to my appointment with my psychiatrist today. I filled him in on the Well Being centre stuff, and that I'd come off Quetiapine, due to it doing no good (and I'm sure I had some minor niggly side effect, but can't recall what now, must look through past entries[1]). He was about set to discharge me back to my GP when I asked if there

Comments

[squibbet]

I presume you've tried something like yoga-style relaxation and breathing excersises? I find them helpful when hyperventilating (which it sounds like you're doing).

[athanasius]

Actually I *under*ventilate, almost the exact opposite to hyperventilating. I'm a shallow/slow breather to start with, and it gets more so.

Also once this symptom starts and initiates the whole thoughts > physical symptoms > more thoughts > more symptoms cycle... it's hard for me to think of doing anything about it. So hopefully the beta blockers will lessen the initial symptoms a bit and allow me to, indeed, try some breathing exercises to calm things down.

[squibbet]

If you're an habitual shallow breather, then you should maybe think about doing the yoga breathing techniques anyway, to encourage you into the habit of correct breathing? Using the diaphragm more generally might just help stop it seizing up.

[athanasius]

Probably true. It's no fun trying to change the habits of a lifetime though.

Hey, look, I resisted just saying "yes mom!" ;)