KirayEmmayHaleyyReag
Member
Hi everyone, I'm new and I'd just like to say s to arron and everyone else who contributes to this site. I've had persisent, horrible, terrifying fascics for two years, seen three neuros and no one has ever mentioned the term "benign fasciculations" to me. For some reason having a doctor tell you that your symptoms are normal is not as reassuring as hearing that there might be benign condition.
At first I was hesitant to read anything on this site because I have sworn off reading anything als-related after that fateful day two years ago. (do you ever wonder what our lives would be like today if we had never looked up "muscle twitches" on the internet that first time?) But it was at the advice of my psychologist that I finally did read some of these posts, and I can't express the wonderful relief I feel.
This brings me to the purpose of my post. After my third normal neuro exam, my neuro suggested I get counseling for the anxiety I was experiencing as a result of my fascics. I have never been a hypochondriac and I've never really had any problems with anxiety previously. I felt that all of my anxiety was simply from my fascics.
Two panic-attacks later, I realized that my anxiety was interfering with my life and I started seeing one of my school's psychologists. She was incredible. The first thing she said to me was "I'm not here to convince you that you don't have als. I am here to help you manage the anxiety that your fascics cause." It was such a different approach compared to what I had been doing -- which was like carring around an index card of all the reasons why I am healthy and don't have als.
It has been a slow process, but most of my daily anxiety about als is gone. Most of the time, I KNOW I don't have als. There are so many reasons why it is OBVIOUS that I don't have als. but I am still struggling with these irrational frenzies that seem to be brought on by some particularly scary (for me, that means in my hands, feet or shoulderblades) or persistent fasics. I lose all ability to think rationally and then I am convinced I am dying, and then I completely freak out.
Those freak outs are the hardest thing for me to deal with because I become so irrational that nothing can calm me down. but I do feel liek I am making progress with my psychologist.
Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone else has tried to help alleviate their fears with the help of a psychologist, and not just a neurologist.
At first I was hesitant to read anything on this site because I have sworn off reading anything als-related after that fateful day two years ago. (do you ever wonder what our lives would be like today if we had never looked up "muscle twitches" on the internet that first time?) But it was at the advice of my psychologist that I finally did read some of these posts, and I can't express the wonderful relief I feel.
This brings me to the purpose of my post. After my third normal neuro exam, my neuro suggested I get counseling for the anxiety I was experiencing as a result of my fascics. I have never been a hypochondriac and I've never really had any problems with anxiety previously. I felt that all of my anxiety was simply from my fascics.
Two panic-attacks later, I realized that my anxiety was interfering with my life and I started seeing one of my school's psychologists. She was incredible. The first thing she said to me was "I'm not here to convince you that you don't have als. I am here to help you manage the anxiety that your fascics cause." It was such a different approach compared to what I had been doing -- which was like carring around an index card of all the reasons why I am healthy and don't have als.
It has been a slow process, but most of my daily anxiety about als is gone. Most of the time, I KNOW I don't have als. There are so many reasons why it is OBVIOUS that I don't have als. but I am still struggling with these irrational frenzies that seem to be brought on by some particularly scary (for me, that means in my hands, feet or shoulderblades) or persistent fasics. I lose all ability to think rationally and then I am convinced I am dying, and then I completely freak out.
Those freak outs are the hardest thing for me to deal with because I become so irrational that nothing can calm me down. but I do feel liek I am making progress with my psychologist.
Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone else has tried to help alleviate their fears with the help of a psychologist, and not just a neurologist.
