Concerns About Possible Dissociative Amnesia
Background Information: I’m a 14-year-old female, assigned male at birth, weighing 88 pounds and standing between 5’3” and 5’4”. I take propranolol to manage anxiety and I have never smoked or vaped. From a young age, around 8 or 9, I developed a significant apprehension about being observed. I often had the irrational fear that someone or something was peering through my windows, leading me to frequently check areas that weren’t easily visible. This worry continues to this day. Furthermore, if a stranger approaches me offering something—like a religious pamphlet or a similar gesture—I often experience intense fear or panic attacks, which I cannot explain. I have always felt uncomfortable in spaces that have many hiding spots, such as cluttered rooms or those filled with furniture. As a result, I keep my own room intentionally small and arrange the furniture against the walls. Nightmares were also a part of my childhood, often featuring figures staring at me through windows—these entities never attacked; they simply observed me. Recently, a friend who has been diagnosed with Dissociative Amnesia suggested that I exhibit several symptoms of this condition. However, I’m uncertain about the origins of my issues, particularly since my memory has always been somewhat unreliable. Any suggestions or insights would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.
Answers (1)
6/28/2025, 2:50:32 PM
OpenHealth AI
It's understandable to have concerns about your experiences and feelings, especially when they impact your daily life. Based on what you've shared, your symptoms, including anxiety, apprehension about being observed, and memory issues, suggest that you may be dealing with anxiety-related conditions rather than necessarily dissociative amnesia itself. It's important to recognize that these feelings can be distressing but are not uncommon in individuals with anxiety.
Explanation
Dissociative amnesia involves gaps in memory that are usually related to trauma or stress, while your experiences seem more connected to anxiety and fear responses. The fears you've described, particularly about being observed and the reactions you have around strangers, indicate strong anxiety reactions rather than memory loss or dissociation. Taking propranolol may help with some anxiety symptoms, but it’s essential to continue exploring these feelings.
Next Steps
-
Practice Grounding Techniques: Try techniques that help you stay present when you feel anxious. Deep breathing, mindfulness, and focusing on your senses (what you can see, hear, feel, etc.) may help calm your mind.
-
Establish a Safe Space: Ensure that your room continues to feel secure. Keep arrangements simple and limit clutter to reduce feelings of anxiety around your environment.
-
Memory Tracking: Keep a daily journal to track your feelings, thoughts, and any memories that come up. This can help you identify patterns or triggers related to your anxiety.
-
Engage in Gradual Exposure: Gradually expose yourself to situations that make you uncomfortable, starting from less stressful scenarios and slowly working up as you feel ready. This could involve practicing brief interactions with strangers in safe environments.
-
Talk with a Trusted Adult or Counselor: Sharing what you're experiencing can be very beneficial. Consider discussing your feelings with a parent, teacher, or school counselor who can provide support and guidance.
-
Educate Yourself About Anxiety: Understanding more about anxiety and its symptoms can empower you and help alleviate some of your worries.
Your feelings are valid, and taking small steps can be helpful in managing your experiences. If your symptoms continue or worsen, please seek further support. You are not alone in this, and there are paths to feeling better.
Related Questions
Persistent Pain in Right Shoulder and Arm After Lifting
Hello, everyone! I’m a 23-year-old male and have been engaged in weightlifting for several years now. Recently, I’ve been struggling with ongoing discomfort in my right shoulder and arm, which I haven’t been able to accurately identify. The pain manifests during particular movements, especially with lateral raises or when my arm is raised to shoulder level while rotating my wrist. Certain pressing and pulling activities can also provoke this discomfort. Rather than feeling sharp, it’s a deep, nagging sensation that sometimes seems localized in the front area of the shoulder or at the biceps tendon, and at other times it feels more like it’s situated between the shoulder and upper arm. Fortunately, there’s no numbness or tingling involved. This issue began while I was working out. I decided to take a break for around two months, but when I returned, the pain persisted. After consulting a physician, I was diagnosed with bicipital tendinitis. Since then, I’ve reduced my upper-body workouts, completely steering clear of shoulder exercises and heavy lifting, and have begun a gentle rehabilitation regimen focusing on external rotations, pendulum movements, and scapular exercises. Despite adhering to this routine for about a week, I haven’t experienced any noticeable improvement. Is it typical for this type of tendon injury to require an extended period for recovery? At what point should I consider diagnostic imaging, such as an ultrasound or MRI? Additionally, are there frequent rehabilitation errors that might impede the healing process? I appreciate your insights in advance!
Understanding EEG Results for My 22-Month-Old Son: Insights Needed
Could someone help clarify this for me? My son, who is just 22 months old, hasn’t started walking yet, becomes tired easily, and has been experiencing behavioral outbursts. He had a febrile seizure in February 2025, followed by another unexplained seizure in April 2025, which led us to consult a neurologist. Since he was 3 months old, he has been receiving therapy from a physical therapist for torticollis. At birth, he spent five days in the NICU due to issues with meconium aspiration. A recent MRI showed normal results, and he also had a follow-up EEG after one conducted in July 2025. The results from this recent EEG were abnormal for a pediatric patient in awake, drowsy, and sleeping states. Notably, there were brief episodes of left frontotemporal delta slowing, which occurred mainly when he was awake and drowsy. There were no signs of epileptiform activity detected. In contrast, the EEG performed back on July 3, 2025, was deemed normal for both awake and drowsy states, again with no evidence of epileptiform irregularities, although it did not capture any sleep data. This examination was prompted by the child's existing history of febrile seizures. Importantly, he is not currently on any anti-seizure medications. The EEG procedure used standard electrode placements per the 10-20 system, conducted a single-lead EKG, and included continuous video monitoring. During the analysis, the background activity was symmetric, indicating some anterior-posterior (AP) organization, with a dominant rhythm of 50-80 microvolts at 7 Hz. His drowsy state was marked by a reduced amount of eye blink activity, less breathing motion interference, and a generalized slowing in theta/delta frequencies. Stage II sleep exhibited spindles and vertex waves patterns. Additionally, there were intermittent bursts of 250-300 microvolts in the left frontotemporal region with semi-rhythmic activity of 2-4 Hz, mostly observed during wakefulness and drowsiness. No definitive epileptiform discharge was noted. Photic stimulation during the test did not elicit a strong response, and hyperventilation was not conducted during this session.
28-Year-Old Male Experiencing Scalp Sensations Post-Amitriptyline Treatment
I am a 28-year-old man in generally good health, without any cardiac concerns. Approximately a month ago, I encountered intense pain localized to one side of my head, which was unresponsive to paracetamol. However, a single dose of a migraine treatment provided substantial relief. Following that, I began a regimen of amitriptyline, starting at a nightly dose of 10 to 25 mg. While my head pain has diminished significantly—by about 90 to 95%—I now experience occasional uncomfortable sensations on my scalp. These feelings include pins and needles, a cooling sensation, and some crawling feelings near my hairline and ears. There are fleeting moments where I feel brief throbs lasting a second, but I do not have any persistent headaches. To clarify, I do not experience any of the following: - Nausea - Weakness in my limbs - Numbness - Changes in my vision - Coordination difficulties - Seizures The symptoms I have are transient, shifting around and often intensifying when I become conscious of them or as the day progresses. I would like to know: Is it common to experience these sensations during the recovery stage following episodes of neuralgia or migraine-like discomfort? Additionally, could the amitriptyline potentially be causing these temporary paresthetic sensations? I am seeking some reassurance or advice on what is typically observed during this healing process. Thank you.
Concerns About My Toes
Age: 30, Female Currently, I am on the lookout for a reputable podiatrist in my vicinity. However, I've encountered a perplexing issue with my foot. Just last night, I noticed a growth on the side of my toe, something entirely new to me. I maintain a nutritious diet and have a demanding job that requires me to be on my feet quite often. My footwear includes brands such as Brooks Ghost Runners, Hoka Bondi 9’s, and Nike Motiva’s, and I don’t opt for restrictive socks. I also apply Vick’s Vaporub to my feet, a practice handed down from my family, and stick with simple, non-fragrant lotions like Vanicream and CeraVe SA Cream for my skin. In addition, I am curious about the my big toenail's change in color. What might be the underlying reasons for this? Also, I have these persistent dark spots on my toes that I've struggled with since my days on the runway. Despite my efforts, nothing has succeeded in lightening or diminishing their appearance. I'm just looking to determine if there might have been a factor from the past that could have contributed to these issues. I’m not sure what else to include, but I’m open to answering any questions you might have. Thank you for your attention! Best wishes from a worried soul!
Strange Jelly-Like Substance Observed from Wound
I’m a 21-year-old female living with an auto-inflammatory condition known as hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Recently, I've experienced a concerning issue with one of my wounds. This particular wound causes significant pain and excessive bleeding. However, whenever I attend to it, I tend to find this unusual jelly-like substance present within it. Interestingly, this phenomenon has only occurred with this one wound and not any of the others I have. The bleeding seems to persist until I manage to remove this jelly substance, after which it typically slows down and comes to a halt completely. I’m seeking insights into what this might signify so that I can effectively discuss it with my healthcare provider.