I Need Help: Something Feels Off
Hello, I find myself in a troubling situation and could really use some guidance. I visited my physician recently, but she assured me that my lab results were normal. I wonder if you could listen to my symptoms and help steer me in the right direction. Here’s what I’ve been experiencing: - I’ve noticed an increase in my weight. - I feel the need to sleep excessively. - A sense of being overwhelmed is ever-present. - My nipples have become incredibly sensitive, and any contact with them triggers strong feelings of anger and disgust. - It’s been a year since I had an intimate moment with my partner, and sometimes even the thought of sharing a kiss with him makes me feel nauseous. I’m not looking for advice regarding my relationship. Just a year ago, I was head over heels for him! He truly is wonderful—he takes care of our expenses, spoils me with outings, and fulfills every hope I’ve ever had in a partner. Reflecting on the situation, here’s a timeline of events that might shed some light: - I started a high-pressure job, but after a year, I decided to leave due to the stress. - Initially, I thought my issues could be attributed to anxiety, so I began taking medication. However, it made me feel as though my heart had stopped at times while I was asleep. - Also, I am on birth control, but there was a stretch when I wasn’t, and during that time, I genuinely felt unhinged. That sums up my situation! I previously shared my story on Reddit, where some users suggested that I might have experienced something awful that I can’t recall. I assure you, my life is actually quite fulfilling. I’m thriving in my studies, planning a wedding, and have a solid support system surrounding me.
Answers (1)
2/17/2026, 12:30:42 AM
OpenHealth AI
It sounds like you're experiencing a complex mix of physical and emotional symptoms, which can feel overwhelming. Weight changes, fatigue, heightened sensitivity, and feelings of disconnection can often be intertwined with stress, anxiety, and hormonal fluctuations. Let's break this down to understand your situation better and find some steps to feel more grounded.
Explanation
Your symptoms—weight gain, excessive sleep, overwhelming feelings, and sensitivity—could be linked to several factors, including stress from your job, hormonal changes from your birth control, and the effects anxiety medications may have had. Notably, emotional changes in intimate relationships can also be tied to these physical symptoms, and it’s important to recognize that feelings can shift for various reasons. Even though you have a fulfilling life overall, the pressure and lifestyle changes you’ve faced could be contributing to how you feel now.
Next Steps
-
Monitor Your Symptoms: Keep a daily journal documenting your emotions, sleep patterns, and physical changes. This can help you identify triggers and patterns in your symptoms.
-
Evaluate Diet and Exercise: Focus on maintaining a balanced diet and incorporating light exercise, such as walking or stretching. Both can help improve mood, energy levels, and body awareness.
-
Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques: Engage in mindfulness activities such as meditation or deep-breathing exercises to manage overwhelming feelings. Consider dedicating at least 10-15 minutes each day to practice these techniques.
-
Assess Your Birth Control: If you’ve noticed changes in your mood or physical sensitivity coinciding with your birth control methods, it might be worthwhile to document these observations. Consider discussing this with a healthcare provider to explore if a different option might suit you better.
-
Stay Engaged with Support: Cultivate your support system by discussing your experiences with trusted friends or family. Sometimes, just talking it out can provide comfort and clarity.
Over the next few weeks, take time to reflect on the effects of these actions. If your symptoms do not improve or worsen, consider seeking further support or a second opinion that can explore your concerns in-depth. Remember, it's okay to reach out for help at any time; your well-being is important.
Related Questions
Are These Symptoms Normal?
At 19 years old and not on any medications, I abruptly stopped taking my birth control last December due to weight gain concerns. My doctors have indicated a possibility of PCOS. At the beginning of January, I contracted the flu, which lingered for two weeks. Afterward, I noticed my throat was still hurting and discovered that my tonsils were quite inflamed. As a child, I had issues with tonsillitis, but I believed I had outgrown them. Regardless, I scheduled an appointment with my doctor and was prescribed antibiotics along with steroids about two and a half weeks ago. Although I initially felt much better and saw improvements in my tonsils, they became inflamed again just two days later. I often wake up with an excruciatingly dry mouth and tongue—so much so that swallowing is painful. I also frequently have mucus accumulating in my throat, making it difficult to sleep soundly and speak clearly. Moreover, I've noticed an increase in saliva production. I’m sharing two images: one taken before I visited the doctor and another from this morning, showcasing the changes over the past month. This ongoing discomfort is becoming frustrating, and I’m worried about the possibility of a more serious issue.
Cervical Screening: Seeking Assistance When Overwhelmed
At 26 years old, I'm facing my first overdue cervical smear test, which is scheduled for tomorrow morning. However, the thought of it fills me with dread. As a survivor of sexual assault and domestic abuse between the ages of 19 and 21, the idea of having someone touch me in a vulnerable area is triggering. Although I feel secure now, tonight I’m confronted with the anxiety that accompanies this medical procedure, which I am dreading even though I understand its importance. I recognize that I must undergo this screening to prevent cervical cancer, yet I cannot escape the intense feelings of panic and emotional turmoil that engulf me whenever I ponder the examination. What steps can I take to cope with this? How do I communicate my needs and advocate for myself in this situation? Is there a possibility of being sedated during the procedure? The thought of needing sedation is becoming more prevalent in my mind, but I’m unsure if it’s an option they would consider. I feel embarrassed and frustrated that I struggle so much with what is typically a routine health procedure. The prospect of just enduring it without addressing my emotional needs seems impossible and could lead to further trauma. By the way, I am located in the UK, which may be relevant to my situation. I appreciate your support and understanding as I navigate this challenging moment.
Sudden Cessation of Parkinson’s Treatment
Today, my 78-year-old mother-in-law was admitted to the hospital due to a high fever reaching 103°F. It’s been almost 24 hours since she last received her Parkinson’s medications. She is prescribed Carbidopa-Levodopa 25/100, taken four times a day, in addition to Entacapone 200 mg, also administered four times daily. My mother-in-law has been battling Parkinson’s disease and recently endured a fall two weeks ago, which caused a T12 burst fracture. Prior to this incident, she was on the verge of stage 5 Parkinson’s, managing to use a walker for mobility, although she required assistance to sit and rise. While she could feed herself as long as the food was appropriately cut, her ability to handle utensils was somewhat limited. There were moments of hallucinations and episodes where she became irritable with her husband, but she also had times when she appeared quite lucid and ‘normal.’ After her fall, she spent around ten days in the hospital. During that time, she underwent an MRI while under anesthesia due to her tremors and anxiety about enclosed spaces. Unfortunately, post-MRI, there seemed to be a decline in her mental clarity. She exhibited persistent sadness, frustration, and tears, often expressing a strong desire to leave the hospital, directed at her husband, which could be classified as hospital delirium. The medical team noted the burst fracture was stable, treating it conservatively with a TLSO brace and physical therapy. When the physical therapist visited, she struggled to stand, requiring support from three individuals, raising concerns about her future mobility. Upon her discharge on Friday afternoon to a skilled nursing facility, her emotional state appeared unchanged, with continued agitation and sadness. By Saturday, she remained visibly distressed and tearful. However, on Sunday, her condition shifted dramatically; she became somewhat catatonic, with eyes closed but still capable of eating, drinking, and responding to certain commands when asked, while also requesting a bedpan. On Monday, the skilled nursing staff detected she had developed a fever and transported her to the emergency room. Reports indicated she vomited during the transfer. After thorough checks, the medical team found no signs of infection but has been administering fluids throughout the day. As of now, her fever has subsided, and vital signs are stable, albeit with a slightly low blood pressure. Her current state is concerning; she is largely unresponsive, twitching and trembling, intermittently moaning and attempting to express herself, though often nonsensical. I learned that she hasn’t received any medication for her Parkinson’s today due to her being designated NPO (nothing by mouth), pending an evaluation by a speech-language pathologist before reintroducing anything orally. I’ve come across information regarding the risks associated with abruptly halting Parkinson’s medication, which may be contributing to her tremors, distress, and current condition. I also worry that this might have resulted from negligence in administering her medication at the skilled nursing facility. My husband has raised this issue with the nursing staff and requested an urgent visit from a physician; however, hours have passed with no response. What steps should we take next? We plan to request a hospice consultation, focusing solely on comfort care, but I’m anxious that the abrupt cessation of her medications is inflicting unnecessary suffering on her.
Strange Smells Only I Could Perceive
As a 34-year-old male, I am currently prescribed Cymbalta for depression, Synthroid to manage my hypothyroidism, and Lipitor for cholesterol management. While I’m not sure about my exact Body Mass Index, I stand at 5 feet 10 inches and I suspect I weigh around 110 kg, though it's been quite some time since I checked my weight. Last year was particularly challenging due to severe depression, and an odd experience from that period continues to puzzle me. I found myself detecting odors that no one else seemed to notice—typically, they resembled the stench of decomposing food or intense body odor. Working in a laboratory, I'm often surrounded by an array of unpleasant smells. However, whenever I inquired with my colleagues about what I perceived, they insisted they were unaware of any odors, even when we were in close proximity. On those occasions, we were not involved in any particularly pungent procedures, like those that utilize sulfur, meaning there should have been no strong smells to mask. Given that we have a good rapport, my coworkers would surely inform me if I had an off-putting scent, especially considering my hygiene tends to decline during bouts of depression, which might have influenced my perception. Could it be possible that the odor was originating from my own nasal passages? I used to have a septum piercing, known for harboring unpleasant smells when still healing. However, that piercing closed up nearly ten years ago. During this confusing time, I also took a COVID-19 test, which thankfully came back negative. This issue appeared to be unique to my experiences during these depressive episodes, as I have never encountered such a phenomenon outside of that context!
Understanding My Muscle Movements
At 19 years old, I am trying to make sense of some unusual muscle dynamics I'm experiencing. My ultimate aim is to consult a physician for clarity, but I find myself lost when it comes to categorizing my symptoms or knowing how to seek help. My first recollections of these movements date back to when I was 14, happening infrequently during the early hours as I styled my hair. At that time, I experienced a slight shaking in my arm, which didn’t seem significant enough for me to worry about. As the years progressed, I became aware that these occurrences began to escalate, particularly in the mornings. I observed that the more fatigued or stressed I felt, the more pronounced these movements became. On challenging days, I would suddenly drop items, feel my legs lock straight leading to falls, and experience a tightness in my chest accompanied by abrupt gasps. My eyes would also tend to shut quickly during these moments. A particularly distressing incident happened one morning when I overslept for an important event I was supposed to host. My anxiety surged, leading to a situation where I struggled to send a message for a full 20 minutes, as my arms would jolt involuntarily, causing me to drop my phone. I experienced a severe fall due to my legs locking, resulting in a painful bruise. The associated chest tightness made it feel like I was unable to breathe, compounded by my continuous gasping. Recently, I’ve taken steps to handle my stress more effectively, and my mornings have improved. However, throughout the day, I continue to struggle with clumsiness, often letting things slip from my grasp. When stress levels rise or I’m sleep-deprived, those earlier symptoms may return, albeit less frequently. I am reaching out for guidance on how to articulate what I’m experiencing and where to seek assistance. Despite extensive searching online, I have not found anything that resonates with my situation. There are discussions surrounding "anxiety tics" that mention behaviors like shivering, scalp scratching, or rapid blinking. Additionally, I’ve come across information on Tourette's syndrome, which generally affects individuals from birth and tends to manifest consistently, growing more pronounced under stress. I don’t feel like I belong to either of these categories. My movements are completely involuntary and vary in severity, from being merely distracting to significantly disruptive. I apologize for the lengthy post. Any insights or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!