Understanding Involuntary Self-Harm Behaviors: Seeking Help for Compulsive Habits
Frequent involuntary self-harming behavior? I often have an involuntary habit of using the pad of my right thumb to pick at the inner side of the distal interphalangeal joint of my middle finger, especially when I am anxious, upset, or deep in thought. This behavior has worsened,...
Dr. Duan Yongzhang reply Psychiatry
Hello: In this situation, please make time to visit the psychiatric outpatient clinic as soon as possible to inform the doctor about the issues mentioned above. The doctor will provide treatment based on the diagnosis and findings, which should be very helpful. Wishing you a spee...[Read More] Understanding Involuntary Self-Harm Behaviors: Seeking Help for Compulsive Habits
Understanding Fear of Speed: Is It a Mental Health Issue?
Where do I have an illness? I don't know when it started, but I've developed a fear of speed that has been getting progressively worse. I can't even ride roller coasters, and I don't dare to ride on someone else's motorcycle, as it feels just as thrilling...
Dr. Duan Yongzhang reply Psychiatry
Hello! Your situation may be related to a specific phobia, such as acrophobia (fear of heights) or claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces), both of which fall under the category of phobias. Individuals with phobias can often avoid the feared objects or situations without signifi...[Read More] Understanding Fear of Speed: Is It a Mental Health Issue?
How to Support a Partner Facing Mental Health Challenges?
How can I assist her? Dear Dr. Duan, Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. My girlfriend usually behaves normally, but under certain stress, she exhibits the following symptoms: 1. She shuts herself off emotionally and avoids confronting the current situation, yet...
Dr. Duan Yongzhang reply Psychiatry
Hello! There is a psychiatric disorder known as "dissociative disorder," where patients may experience temporary amnesia. However, if the amnesia occurs under stress, it is likely to be an acute stress reaction or related to past traumatic experiences leading to post-tr...[Read More] How to Support a Partner Facing Mental Health Challenges?
Understanding Mental Health Issues: How to Help a Friend in Distress
Mental health issues? Hello Doctor, I have a good friend who has been doing very poorly lately, and he is unwilling to seek medical help, so I am consulting you online first. Does he have a mental health issue? How can I help him? He has always been a quiet person who doesn...
Dr. Duan Yongzhang reply Psychiatry
Hello! Based on your description, your friend may be experiencing a neurosis, which is caused by the accumulation of long-term stress leading to involuntary anxiety and depressive symptoms. This condition can also be accompanied by discomfort due to autonomic nervous system dysre...[Read More] Understanding Mental Health Issues: How to Help a Friend in Distress
Coping with Anxiety: Understanding Memory Doubts and Emotional Turmoil
I don't know how to handle these emotions? I often experience sudden anxiety and find myself reflecting on past events. Memories that should be certain become uncertain, leading to worries and anxiety about whether my recollections are incorrect. For instance, I recently rec...
Dr. Duan Yongzhang reply Psychiatry
Hello: Based on your description, it seems that you are experiencing symptoms similar to anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. I recommend that you take the time to visit a psychiatric outpatient clinic for assistance, as it could be beneficial for you. If it is rel...[Read More] Coping with Anxiety: Understanding Memory Doubts and Emotional Turmoil
How to Differentiate Between Depression and Bipolar Disorder?
Is it depression or bipolar disorder? Hello, I have been troubled by this issue for a while because I have been unsure about how to see a doctor. I used to have no problems with sleep, but in the past year or two, due to some family issues and some matters concerning friendships ...
Dr. Duan Yongzhang reply Psychiatry
Hui: Hello! Based on your description, it is not easy to determine whether you are experiencing depression or bipolar disorder, and it is also possible that neither applies. However, regardless of the diagnosis, your sleep disturbances and emotional instability leading to self-ha...[Read More] How to Differentiate Between Depression and Bipolar Disorder?
How to Address Potential Depression or Bipolar Disorder Symptoms?
What should be done? I would like to know if I have mental health issues such as depression or bipolar disorder. My job requires long hours with little rest or leisure activities. I drink a little alcohol every day and have a persistent issue of waking up in the middle of the nig...
Dr. Duan Yongzhang reply Psychiatry
Hello! Your situation is likely a reaction to long-term accumulated stress, and it may not yet qualify as depression or bipolar disorder. However, prolonged insomnia and irritability can disrupt both your personal and professional life, and your mood is unlikely to improve. I rec...[Read More] How to Address Potential Depression or Bipolar Disorder Symptoms?
Do I Have Depression? Understanding Symptoms and Seeking Help
Am I suffering from depression? Hello Doctor: I would like to ask if my symptoms require me to see a doctor for treatment. Since childhood, my mother often compared me to my sister. Whenever my grades dropped, she would frequently call me worthless, saying things like "Why d...
Dr. Duan Yongzhang reply Psychiatry
Yulin: Hello! It is necessary for you to visit a psychiatric outpatient clinic. It seems that you have been experiencing emotional distress for many years, and facing it alone can be very challenging. Many individuals with similar issues have found improvement after seeking treat...[Read More] Do I Have Depression? Understanding Symptoms and Seeking Help
Coping with Grief: Navigating Emotions During a Loved One's Illness
Claire Dear Dr. Duan, Hello, my mother has recently been diagnosed with cancer and has only a few months left to live. I am the only daughter in the family, and while I am not afraid of the hard work involved in caring for her, I am terrified of losing her. In front of others, I...
Dr. Duan Yongzhang reply Psychiatry
Claire: Hello! Facing the impending farewell of a beloved family member is indeed a difficult challenge in life. Your mother needs your companionship and care now more than ever, so I hope you take good care of yourself. It is natural to feel sad and shed tears in your current si...[Read More] Coping with Grief: Navigating Emotions During a Loved One's Illness
Seeking Help: Finding Affordable Care for a Family Member with Disabilities
Please assist me! Hello, doctor. I have a family member at home who has moderate intellectual disability and moderate mental health issues. My sister-in-law is a 31-year-old woman. There are few members in our family; both of her parents have passed away, and she only has one old...
Dr. Duan Yongzhang reply Psychiatry
Meteor: Hello! I admire how dedicated you and your husband are in caring for your sister-in-law! Individuals with intellectual disabilities are generally placed in care facilities, while those with mental illnesses are primarily placed in psychiatric hospitals. When there is a co...[Read More] Seeking Help: Finding Affordable Care for a Family Member with Disabilities
Is It Safe to Stop Psychiatric Medication on Your Own?
Can I stop taking medication on my own? I previously visited a psychiatrist and was prescribed half a tablet of Elysium and one tablet of Ental at night, along with 50 mg of Luvox. Later, the dosage was adjusted to take it twice a day in the morning and at night, while keeping th...
Dr. Duan Yongzhang reply Psychiatry
Lin: Hello! I hope you can continue taking Luvox as directed by your psychiatrist. It's not unusual, as medications like Luvox are indeed meant to be taken long-term; otherwise, the risk of relapse increases significantly. This is especially true for those who stop taking th...[Read More] Is It Safe to Stop Psychiatric Medication on Your Own?
Is It Anxiety? Understanding Compulsive Checking Behaviors
Is it anxiety disorder? I am a student living away from home for my studies in another city, and I have been doing so for seven years now. I have been living off-campus for a long time, but in the past six months, I have started experiencing some issues. When I leave my place, I ...
Dr. Duan Yongzhang reply Psychiatry
Kerry: Hello! Your situation is likely related to "obsessive-compulsive symptoms," which require assistance from a psychiatric outpatient clinic. "Obsessive-compulsive symptoms" are most commonly seen in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). These...[Read More] Is It Anxiety? Understanding Compulsive Checking Behaviors
Struggles with Mental Health Treatment: A Patient's Frustrating Journey
The helplessness, confusion, and lack of solutions regarding mental health disorders? It has been five years since the onset of my illness. Before I got sick, I always thought that being ill simply meant seeing a doctor and taking medication to get better. I initially believed th...
Dr. Duan Yongzhang reply Psychiatry
Bystander: Hello! Your feelings of helplessness and confusion are truly profound. I believe this is the result of five years of accumulated experiences, and it resonates with many friends who are seeing psychiatrists. By asking these questions for yourself, you are also giving a ...[Read More] Struggles with Mental Health Treatment: A Patient's Frustrating Journey
Understanding Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Seeking Help and Support
Is it generalized anxiety disorder? Recently, I have been feeling anxious. I have experienced this before, but I managed to overcome it with the support of my friends and other focal points in my life. Now, due to unemployment and isolation at home, I feel lonely. Although I don&...
Dr. Duan Yongzhang reply Psychiatry
Hello! I can sense that you are currently struggling with feelings of anxiety. You have experienced similar lows in the past, and I believe you can overcome this one as well. Your condition may not necessarily be "generalized anxiety disorder"; it could also be symptoms...[Read More] Understanding Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Seeking Help and Support
Dealing with a Paranoid Boss: Strategies for Encouraging Mental Health Care
My boss has paranoid delusions? I'm sorry to hear about your situation. It sounds very challenging. Here’s the translation of your content: Hello, I work in the hairdressing industry. My question is about my boss, who was originally a supervisor in a certain hairdressing gr...
Dr. Duan Yongzhang reply Psychiatry
Hi! From your description, it seems that your boss is exhibiting signs of paranoia, which can occur in certain mental health disorders or long-term personality issues. A definitive diagnosis must be made through an in-person evaluation by a physician. This situation is indeed aff...[Read More] Dealing with a Paranoid Boss: Strategies for Encouraging Mental Health Care
Understanding Anxiety Disorders: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
Is it anxiety disorder? Hello Doctor: I currently have a boyfriend of eight years. At the beginning of our relationship, he would often call me (on a landline), and he always claimed that he could hear other voices on the line. I said there was no one else, and I didn't pay ...
Dr. Duan Yongzhang reply Psychiatry
Hello! It seems that your boyfriend's condition is somewhat different from typical anxiety disorders, as he is experiencing symptoms such as paranoia, talking to himself, and perceiving things that should not exist. He is even unable to maintain his work at this point. These...[Read More] Understanding Anxiety Disorders: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
How to Seek Help for Depression When You Struggle to Open Up
How to treat depression? I have never been very comfortable sharing my feelings with others, so if I see a doctor, I might not be able to express much. How can I tell my family that I have depression? They probably don't know much about it, and... I don't want to talk t...
Dr. Duan Yongzhang reply Psychiatry
It is indeed not easy to share your feelings with others! Previously, I suggested that you could talk to a teacher or a physician. However, talking to these individuals doesn't necessarily mean you have to share your innermost thoughts; the main purpose is to give them a cha...[Read More] How to Seek Help for Depression When You Struggle to Open Up
Am I Suffering from Depression? Understanding Your Feelings
Am I suffering from depression? I often feel very troubled, but I don't know why. I prefer being alone in my room because I feel like no one understands me. I don't like my family, and even my friends seem to drift through life without purpose. I often find myself alone...
Dr. Duan Yongzhang reply Psychiatry
Hello! From your questions, it seems that you are experiencing a lot of distress and are feeling quite down. If you have been feeling this way for a while (more than one or two weeks), not wanting to go out, and noticing changes in your appetite and sleep (either loss of appetite...[Read More] Am I Suffering from Depression? Understanding Your Feelings