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What Causes Right Ear Pressure, Loss Of Appetite And Difficulty In Swallowing?
Question: Hi I have had an addiction to poker mmachine gambling for many year
I am now no longer motivated to go.
I struggle daily with the memories and all the losses financially. I have also stopped friendships. I feel I have lost a big part of me.
What can I do with my thoughts?
I am not sure how to start over. It all seems so hard and I just don't know what and how I am going to get the lifestyle I want.
I don't really work so I am left with a lot on my mind and body and I just feel lost alone and stuck.
I have various bodily symptoms which I can share later which constantly make me feel like I am not well. I saw a doctor and he did a blood test to see if its my thyroid but I just feel so scared to go to doctors because for the last 9 years I kept going but nothing helped.
Nothing excites me anymore and my appetite has been poor.
I have very high anxiety - I worry about every ache and pain - currently my ear and right throat have been terrible and I saw a GP. I worry about it.
I worry all the time about all my symptoms. Physical and emotional. I don't know how to stop worrying as I always feel like something is wrong physically. I have pains and im scared because I keep thinking something is wrong.
because I have had so many unresolved health symptoms for many years - I feel so upset and feel let down that I have lost so many years hanging on to dear life that all I could do was gamble all my life.
One of the symptoms that really has had me unwell and afraid is the feeling I am far - detached from my body.
I just want to accept that I am ok - but how do I when I have these feelings that 11 years ago were so foreign and unknown to me.
I just want to live my life and not worry but how?
these are my current physical symptoms
Right ear pressure and discomfort and difficulty when swallowing. Doctor said use waxol then will clean it - I worry about this
Loss of appetite
Right side neck and back discomfort and tightness - I used vitamin b it helped but..
and the detached feeling from my body
lastly the gambling memories and losses of friends and money ....no motivation for anything.....
I am now no longer motivated to go.
I struggle daily with the memories and all the losses financially. I have also stopped friendships. I feel I have lost a big part of me.
What can I do with my thoughts?
I am not sure how to start over. It all seems so hard and I just don't know what and how I am going to get the lifestyle I want.
I don't really work so I am left with a lot on my mind and body and I just feel lost alone and stuck.
I have various bodily symptoms which I can share later which constantly make me feel like I am not well. I saw a doctor and he did a blood test to see if its my thyroid but I just feel so scared to go to doctors because for the last 9 years I kept going but nothing helped.
Nothing excites me anymore and my appetite has been poor.
I have very high anxiety - I worry about every ache and pain - currently my ear and right throat have been terrible and I saw a GP. I worry about it.
I worry all the time about all my symptoms. Physical and emotional. I don't know how to stop worrying as I always feel like something is wrong physically. I have pains and im scared because I keep thinking something is wrong.
because I have had so many unresolved health symptoms for many years - I feel so upset and feel let down that I have lost so many years hanging on to dear life that all I could do was gamble all my life.
One of the symptoms that really has had me unwell and afraid is the feeling I am far - detached from my body.
I just want to accept that I am ok - but how do I when I have these feelings that 11 years ago were so foreign and unknown to me.
I just want to live my life and not worry but how?
these are my current physical symptoms
Right ear pressure and discomfort and difficulty when swallowing. Doctor said use waxol then will clean it - I worry about this
Loss of appetite
Right side neck and back discomfort and tightness - I used vitamin b it helped but..
and the detached feeling from my body
lastly the gambling memories and losses of friends and money ....no motivation for anything.....
Brief Answer:
These symptoms can occur due to anxiety and depression
Detailed Answer:
Hello, Welcome to Health Care Magic
I have read your query and I can understand your problem. It seems that huge loss due to poker gambling resulted in aggravation of these symptoms. The repetitive memories about past, worries, lack of motivation, feelings that you have lost a part, multiple bodily symptoms, multiple fears etc are probably due to mixed depression and anxiety. The feelings like how would you get good lifestyle can occur due to hopelessness. Excessive worries about body symptoms and inability to control bad thoughts, and feelings that something is wrong in body is pointing towards health anxiety or hypochondriac ideas. The chronicity and persistence of these symptoms since long time further strengthen our provisional diagnosis.
In such symptoms I would advise you to consult a Psychiatrist for evaluation. Persistent depressive symptoms have resulted in lack of motivation and other bodily symptoms. Though there is nothing serious about these symptoms still they need proper attention. Once diagnosis is confirmed then medicines and relaxation therapy can help you in regaining your lost life again. Commonly SSRIs as Sertraline or Fluvoxamine or Escitalopram can help in improving motivation and will reduce anxiety. These medicines will also help to reduce the feeling about something wrong also.
Please visit a Psychiatrist and take help for your symptoms. If you can elaborate your bodily symptoms then that would also help in confirmation of our diagnosis.
Thanks, Hope this helps you, if you have more doubts you can ask again
These symptoms can occur due to anxiety and depression
Detailed Answer:
Hello, Welcome to Health Care Magic
I have read your query and I can understand your problem. It seems that huge loss due to poker gambling resulted in aggravation of these symptoms. The repetitive memories about past, worries, lack of motivation, feelings that you have lost a part, multiple bodily symptoms, multiple fears etc are probably due to mixed depression and anxiety. The feelings like how would you get good lifestyle can occur due to hopelessness. Excessive worries about body symptoms and inability to control bad thoughts, and feelings that something is wrong in body is pointing towards health anxiety or hypochondriac ideas. The chronicity and persistence of these symptoms since long time further strengthen our provisional diagnosis.
In such symptoms I would advise you to consult a Psychiatrist for evaluation. Persistent depressive symptoms have resulted in lack of motivation and other bodily symptoms. Though there is nothing serious about these symptoms still they need proper attention. Once diagnosis is confirmed then medicines and relaxation therapy can help you in regaining your lost life again. Commonly SSRIs as Sertraline or Fluvoxamine or Escitalopram can help in improving motivation and will reduce anxiety. These medicines will also help to reduce the feeling about something wrong also.
Please visit a Psychiatrist and take help for your symptoms. If you can elaborate your bodily symptoms then that would also help in confirmation of our diagnosis.
Thanks, Hope this helps you, if you have more doubts you can ask again
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Well - I just feel like Im going to go again to therapists and I recently tried but I felt like It was making me worse.
It has never worked over the years - even the medicines.
I appreciate your response. I guess there is no motivation to go as it feels like im going to feel worse by talking about everything. And I feel like because I don't have much money I don't want to spend any of it.
I just need a way to accept my current circumstances despite everything that has happened - and its a lot what has happened.
Isnt there anything that can help besides medicine with these thoughts. Maybe a book you suggest? or something to allow me to embrace the new life with no gambling.
I have signed up to online counselling tonight.
I just feel going to the Doctor or any other medical profession makes me feel like Im sick It just reminds me of the old days of constant visits.
a big part of me feels I have improved so much - yet now its how to motivate have faith and how TO LIVE -what do I want? When all these years I wanted my health to improve - and it has a lot - miraculously - by god -
Another thing - Is there actual medication to help with detached physical body feelings? the antidepressants years ago had no help. Cant believe 8 years of feeling like I was separate from my body. couldn't swallow foods - all those years......I tried so hard doctor after doctor......and now ....I guess I just want to celebrate how much my inner peace has come to light..but no friends....
I just cant be bothered leaving the house - don't have a car - and I have become a bit of a home person :) anything better than gambling.
It has never worked over the years - even the medicines.
I appreciate your response. I guess there is no motivation to go as it feels like im going to feel worse by talking about everything. And I feel like because I don't have much money I don't want to spend any of it.
I just need a way to accept my current circumstances despite everything that has happened - and its a lot what has happened.
Isnt there anything that can help besides medicine with these thoughts. Maybe a book you suggest? or something to allow me to embrace the new life with no gambling.
I have signed up to online counselling tonight.
I just feel going to the Doctor or any other medical profession makes me feel like Im sick It just reminds me of the old days of constant visits.
a big part of me feels I have improved so much - yet now its how to motivate have faith and how TO LIVE -what do I want? When all these years I wanted my health to improve - and it has a lot - miraculously - by god -
Another thing - Is there actual medication to help with detached physical body feelings? the antidepressants years ago had no help. Cant believe 8 years of feeling like I was separate from my body. couldn't swallow foods - all those years......I tried so hard doctor after doctor......and now ....I guess I just want to celebrate how much my inner peace has come to light..but no friends....
I just cant be bothered leaving the house - don't have a car - and I have become a bit of a home person :) anything better than gambling.
Brief Answer:
Try to practice yoga and relaxation exercises to supplement the medicines
Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for asking a follow up question
Apart from medicines if you practice yoga and relaxation exercises then that will help you a lot. Progressive muscle relaxation exercises, Breathing Exercises help to reduce the restlessness and anxiety.
Try not to look into detail for your bodily symptoms. Just ignore the somatic symptoms and keep yourself relaxed. Try to read any good motivational book that should help you in gaining confidence to some extent. Don't feel that visiting a consultant will make you feel sick. Just keep one thing in mind that you have to come out of that depression and this is the only reason you would be visiting a Psychiatrist. Don't feel ashamed for any such thing. Visiting a mental health doctor will also result in unrevealing the thoughts and you will feel better. Try to repeatedly reassure yourself that there is nothing wrong in you.
You have taken Sertraline (Zoloft) and this never resulted in improvement. A lot of individuals show poor response to medicines because of improper doses and poor compliance. If one particular medicine failed to work then other medicine of same group can prove efficacious in your case. Medicines like Escitalopram or Paroxetine are relatively having good efficacy. Low dose of antipsychotics like Risperidone or Olanzapine can help to remove that detached like feeling. This would also help to bring that inner peace back.
Your symptoms are falling in depressive spectrum and with proper medicines you will come out of all these symptoms.
Thanks, Hope this helps you. Please ask again if you have more doubts.
Try to practice yoga and relaxation exercises to supplement the medicines
Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for asking a follow up question
Apart from medicines if you practice yoga and relaxation exercises then that will help you a lot. Progressive muscle relaxation exercises, Breathing Exercises help to reduce the restlessness and anxiety.
Try not to look into detail for your bodily symptoms. Just ignore the somatic symptoms and keep yourself relaxed. Try to read any good motivational book that should help you in gaining confidence to some extent. Don't feel that visiting a consultant will make you feel sick. Just keep one thing in mind that you have to come out of that depression and this is the only reason you would be visiting a Psychiatrist. Don't feel ashamed for any such thing. Visiting a mental health doctor will also result in unrevealing the thoughts and you will feel better. Try to repeatedly reassure yourself that there is nothing wrong in you.
You have taken Sertraline (Zoloft) and this never resulted in improvement. A lot of individuals show poor response to medicines because of improper doses and poor compliance. If one particular medicine failed to work then other medicine of same group can prove efficacious in your case. Medicines like Escitalopram or Paroxetine are relatively having good efficacy. Low dose of antipsychotics like Risperidone or Olanzapine can help to remove that detached like feeling. This would also help to bring that inner peace back.
Your symptoms are falling in depressive spectrum and with proper medicines you will come out of all these symptoms.
Thanks, Hope this helps you. Please ask again if you have more doubts.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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