This sounds very relatable to me with other topics.
I have serious problems with obsessions in this vein that I believe to be pure-O (just the obsessive part of OCD) related, or in other words, an anxiety disorder. My mind latches onto things that are bad, and assumes that they will become way worse (as worse as possible), and it paralyzes me with anxiety to the point that I can't sleep some nights. I can't stop thinking about the worst possible case. Endless reading up on the subject, constantly trying to take steps to protect myself from the perceived threat.
I hate it so much. I tried to take medication to deal with it, and it helped me tremendously to stop worrying so much, but the medication caused quite bad tinnitus (it is ototoxic), and I had to stop.
I'm not discounting that coronavirus is scary, it definitely is. I wish I could take my own advice, but it would be far healthier if we could focus only on the present realities instead of fearing the worst case scenarios. If anyone knows how to do that, please advise!
My life is one long string of latching-ons, it sometimes feels like. Often at the expense of everything else.
I can't give any recommendations as far as medication goes, but for me personally this has helped:
1. therapy (or perhaps a coach) to help me jump out of my obsessions, reframe the way I see things, etc.
2. to some extent, leaning into it with a stoic/nihilistic/buddhist perspective. Basically, I get obsessed about things, sometimes these are worrying things, but instead of letting my obsession lead to depression, by reframing it as this thing that ultimately doesn't matter to me (even if it does, somehow), but also this thing I cannot stop obsessing over, it loses at least some of it's power and becomes just another obsessive 'hobby'.
So, for example, I'm obsessively following the current crisis. That is probably not very healthy to do, so I do try to not let it control my days. But practically speaking often that doesn't work. So I 'lean into it'.
I try to apply the stoic 'dichotomy of control' ("to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control"). I consider who in my surroundings I can legitimately worry about, and how I can help them (parents, calling them in their isolation, etc.).
I try to apply the stoic idea of negative visualization: what if I get infected, or a loved one does? how would I deal with it. like, in detail and practically. how would I feel about it in a few years? what, if anything, could result from that that is positive? Bittersweet at best?
I try to apply the zen/buddhist/(nihilist) thoughts: what does any of it matter anyways? what can I do today, or right now, that feels like a good thing to do, without the what-ifs and buts. I can do the dishes. I can listen to a corona-centered podcast while I do it if I feel like, but at least I can do the dishes. or send a message to a friend abroad and ask them how things are (just reminded myself and did this while I'm writing this comment).
None of this solves anything, but I find it can often help. And the better I can help myself deal with these obsessions and anxieties (or panic), the more useful I can be to others. or at least less pointlessly destructive to myself.
To prevent over-thinking at the time of sleep you can try a simple meditation technique I had shared a while ago which I've been following for several years https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17906598
Regarding how to be in the present reality: It is a natural tendency of conditioned mind to worry about the future and be guilty about the past. Ordinarily such a mind can only be in present moment when it's involved in doing something it likes. However, you can train your mind and learn the skill of being in present moment by following a simple technique. Ask yourself this question frequently throughout the day "What am I doing right now?" whenever you raise a question your mind is by its nature compelled to give you answer. SO asking this question will break whatever train of thoughts your mind has been riding through and bring you to the current moment. Now ask another question, what should I be doing at this moment? and then focus on the thing you should be doing (as in focus on eating food or sipping coffee). This technique is taken from mind full to mindful (https://amzn.to/2phvft7 )
Above all, in my personal opinion, it is important to realize that most of things that happen to us can't be controlled/managed by us. The universe is infinitely huge and I'm just a tiny spec of particle compared to its magnanimous size. A change in prospective is required which makes us focus on the deed (karma) we are supposed to do and stop focussing on the result/fruits (phal) thereof. Meditation/chanting can help in realizing this reality.
Have you previously tried joining a social group unrelated to the subject that creates the anxiety? Also, have you tried meditation, chanting or studying topics such as philosophy? Happy to connect and walkthrough my own personal experience and see if it helps you find your course? I don't believe there's 1 solution to fix everyone's problems but maybe it will give you ideas to find yours?
Have you considered other medications? I take 20mg of Lexapro a day for it and it’s no exaggeration to say my life has experienced a sea change for the better. There are many meds to try all with different side effect profiles and different efficacies in different people.
The one I tried that caused it was Zoloft. I assume the other SSRIs will also cause tinnitus by way of raising serotonin levels. But for the brief week before the tinnitus hit, it very much felt like a sea change for the better.
As I understand it, Buspirone might be worth asking your doctor about — it’s not an SSRI or a benzo, and appears in some studies to lower serotonin levels in animal brains. Anyway, worth bringing up with your doc if SSRIs are out.
But I'm only on 10... If I could talk to my doctor I would definitely ask for more (though I hate the side effects) but it's impossible to get an appointment now :(
Hey, here's a thing: I was on 10mg for a year, and it did almost nothing, and I went up to 15mg and literally everything changed overnight (which breaks my mental model for how that works, but fine). I was doing frequent mood check-ins and there's a dramatic effect from the day after I went to 15mg. Could be placebo, but I was super skeptical when the doctor suggested increasing the dose. Now I'm on 20mg 4 years later and it's perfect.
I have serious problems with obsessions in this vein that I believe to be pure-O (just the obsessive part of OCD) related, or in other words, an anxiety disorder. My mind latches onto things that are bad, and assumes that they will become way worse (as worse as possible), and it paralyzes me with anxiety to the point that I can't sleep some nights. I can't stop thinking about the worst possible case. Endless reading up on the subject, constantly trying to take steps to protect myself from the perceived threat.
I hate it so much. I tried to take medication to deal with it, and it helped me tremendously to stop worrying so much, but the medication caused quite bad tinnitus (it is ototoxic), and I had to stop.
I'm not discounting that coronavirus is scary, it definitely is. I wish I could take my own advice, but it would be far healthier if we could focus only on the present realities instead of fearing the worst case scenarios. If anyone knows how to do that, please advise!