[NameLess]

Hello everybody. I'm here to ask for experienced help as to what kind of medication I should be looking for.

I have been experiencing extreme pain in my head/neck. I go to the chiropractor on a very regular basis which seems to fix the massive headaches, but this problem just isn't going away. I had a minor neck injury that should have been fixed YEARS ago, but I'm afraid it's not because I won't let it go away. Since I was very young I can always remember having these "addictions". I would make weird noises in my throat(still do that sometimes)and shake my head as if I were shaking dust/water from my head. I don't know why, but I have STRONG urges to do this over and over and even if I sit and concentrate and try to stop myself, I still do it. I can't relax my neck and I can't stop shaking my head. I also flex and stretch my neck muscles CONSTANTLY. I can't relax and this is killing me. It causes MAJOR headaches and I can't take it anymore. I've been thinking about getting some pain killers or muscle relaxers to help relax my neck and to deal with the headaches, but the headaches and muscle pains are being caused by ME and my little habits. I'm not sure what kind of medication I should be looking into so I'm asking for help with that. I'm not taking anything excpet over the counter Aleve and I'm not alergic to anything.

This forum has helped me out ALOT in the past and I hope it can help me with this. It's like the one and only thing in my life that is bothering me and I feel like I would be the happiest person alive if I didn't have this going on. I'm embarassed to talk to anybody I know about it. I just feel weird, like I'm screwed up in the head and I don't know why. I just can't control my urges.

[ncjoe]

hey I have bipolar disorder...my Doc said alot of times OCD kinda of hitches aride alot of times to this disorder...I stumbled onto a drug called paxil which just isnt for depression and anxiety,it also helps with OCD...I have been taking it for about 3 mos now and my Doc told me I might not need my abilify anymore sense it has helped so much..but a side effect I had when I first started taking it was headache,some mania(be careful of dose so you dont get too maniac) and heartburn...but now thats not going on anymore except for maybe alittle heartburn I treat myself with tums...if your having muscle spasms(me too )I suggest lamictal..it is an anticonvusent used as a mood stabler for bipolar patients...current meds are abilify,lamcital,and paxil...I havent felt this good in ages and there is light at the end of the tunnel people just stay with it...and google your meds and disorder so you know what your taking and what your symtoms are..gl

[vduda]

Welcome back,

It is a strange condition. If I was in your situation I sure in the hell wouldn't get on any SSRI (Paxil, Prozac) or any other SSRI or SNRI (Effexor) med. In fact, I wouldn't mess with any antidepressants (Zoloft, Wellbutrin). New studies are coming out that indicate these meds don't even work. You become dependent on them and suffer serious side effects. Now I'm not saying that it has not helped the individual with bipolar disorder. Perhaps, it does work for people who suffer from clinical depression or bipolar disorders. I was diagnosed very young with an Anxiety Disorder. So the docs through all these meds at me. For God sake they prescribed seraquel which is antipsychotic. I don't suffer from any psychosis. It's simple I have an anxiety disorder and benzodiazepines work for me. Over the years I was addicted to prescribed opiate meds. Took huge amounts and my intake of benzo's also increased exponentially. Been off the opiates for 6 months. Quit the benzos for 4 and half months and it almost killed me. Severe seizures, insomnia, cramping, electric shock symdrome and so on. Been on a maintenance dose of Valium (2mg/day) a month and half and feel awesome. Back to being healthy and functional. Life is beautiful. I sleep like a baby, don't feel tired all the time, energy levels through the roof, appetite and so much more.

Now about your tick. Have you ever tried to find out what is causing this behavior. Tourettes comes to mind when u describe your behavior. When I get panic attacks or feel really nervous and when I am really happy I also do strange movements with my neck and head. But I also had broken my neck in April and had surgery in July. Maybe I'm just not use to the plates in my neck.

I suggest you find other means to deal with this behavior. Work out, stretch, meditate, biofeedback and other more natural techniques. In our society we seem to think there is a magic pill for everything. If all else fails then I would look into benzos. A friend of mine is on benzos for his touretts and it helps him immensely. But you become very dependent, if not addicted to benzos. For me I probably will have to take them the rest of my life due to the seizures and because of chronic physical ailments from the withdrawals. Had blood work done a couple of weeks ago and I am in perfect health. Shape of a marathon runner. Before I went into Detox over 6 months ago I was given 2 weeks to live.

So just know what your getting into. Flexiril is a pretty good muscle relaxer. Doesn't knock you out like Soma's. But I think you can get control of this behavior naturally. Or at least I'm hoping for the best. Speak with a professional (psychiatrist, psychologist, LMHC) See what they think. And research any meds a doc wants to give you. Like I said I would stay clear from SSRI, SNRI, AntiDepressants, Hypnotics, and Antipsychotic meds. Unless you have a serious mental health condition it's not worth it. The side effects are hell. God Bless.

[NameLess]

Thanks for the replies.

I was on Sertraline before and I don't remember it being this bad when I was on it. I will be taking it again to see if it helps my condition. I'm WELL aware of the side effects of these meds. I've suffered through them a few times and now that I know what to expect it's not very hard for me to deal with anymore. I'm just scared I'm going to do some serious damage to my neck if I keep this up. I don't understand what makes me do this and I can't control it no matter what I do. It's the strangest thing. I thought about getting on some soma's to help relax my neck, but those normally put me right to sleep. I need something I can function with. Sad to say, alcohol has been a big help, but I don't want that to become a habit and I don't want to depend on alcohol to make myself "normal" on a daily basis.

I have been thinking stress has something to do with it? Maybe I don't really handle stress that well and this is my way of dealing with it? I notice it's really bad when I'm angry. I think most people get at least a little tense when they're angry though?