[Marina22]

Hi all,

I don't post much for several reasons. First, I don't like to dwell... Second, I can't add any new and useful information, can't think of anything that wasn't discussed already here... But now I'm in the situation when I really need some help or support or explanation or all of the above

Well, it's been almost 3 months since my 6th concussion. I am completely symptoms free, at least I don't feel that anything is wrong with me physically... BUT mentally I am a mess I think that my mind is just not working the way it's supposed to. I have really strange thoughts I can't get rid of

Like 3 days ago we were having a family picnic in our backyard. Well, we left our food unattended for about 15-20 minutes, and then I saw a squirrel checking out our food. It got scared and ran away, but now I'm completely covinced that it tried the cheese on the table, and then I ate the cheese (I didn't think anything of these while eating the cheese, all thoughts came after).

Well, after I ate the cheese I was pretty sure that the squirrel ate it too. And then it has begun. Thoughts in my mind - the squirrel can be rabies infected, so I am going to get it too... And I can't get rid of that thought... I am preparing myself mentally to die... it's driving me crazy and I can't help it. I convinced myself that I'm getting this deadly disease soon.

I found a lot of information about rabies and squirrel. They almost never get rabies. Hospitals won't give you an anti-rabies treatment even if a squirrel bites you because there is no risk... blah0blah-blah.. Not convincing at all (it should be I know, but it is not)

Question - what do I do? Am I crazy? I already thinking of arrangements for my kids when I'm gone...

[Kenjhee]

I was bitten by a squirrel once. Good, blood-drawing clamper. Like you, I scurried to the internet only to find that rabies is almost never transmitted by squirrels.

Just my experience, and obviously I am still here. You weren't even bitten. Saliva to saliva transmission is rarer still.

[Mark in Idaho]

I agree with Kenjhee. Transmission by eating something would be extremely rare. Plus, a rabid squirrel would be to dysfunctional to survey a table of food. Rabies causes strange behavior.

Plus, any virus would be destroyed by your stomach acid.

My bigger concern is that you need some help with obsessive thoughts. I know what they can be like because I suffer from looping thoughts. Fortunately, mine are rarely worrisome, more just annoying and a nuisance.

Speaking to a specialist would be worthwhile so you can be prepared if you get overwhelmed. If you can find a psychiatrist who has experience with obsessive thoughts and especially PCS, you should be able to get control of this. A combination of CBT and meds can be very helpful.

My best to you.

[PlasticMonkey]

I sometimes have obsessive thoughts, sometimes good sometimes bad. At first i thought i had everything under the sun lol, ended up convincing myself that i had tetanus. I thought about it so much i over analyzed myself constantly to the point where i'd have a panic attack.

I use to constantly check my pulse thinking that my heart rate was to fast and that i was going to have a heart attack at any given moment. Eventually i stopped thinking things like that, realizing i was only making my anxiety worse. And that may be what you're doing?

Although that was in the very beginning of my recovery, i still have obsessive thoughts from time to time. Mark In Idaho once told me when i was having derealization, to get busy with something like doing the dishes or taking a shower to get my mind off of it. And that really helped, Maybe try doing the same Marina22?

[Eowyn]

Yeah, I think talking to a doctor about the rabies scare is probably not helpful, but talking to a doctor about the anxious and obsessive thoughts can be incredibly helpful.

These can be symptoms of PCS just as much as headaches, etc.

As Mark mentioned, there are both medications and non-medicated therapies (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in particular) that can help ease these types of thoughts.

One simple technique from CBT that you can use is to label the cognitive distortion ("I am magnifying this incident and blowing it out of proportion.") and then have a more rational statement THAT YOU BELIEVE ready to repeat to yourself. Is it believable that you do not have rabies and you will not die? If so, then just try to say that to yourself as often as your mind tells you the opposite. Argue back with yourself.

If you are able to exercise, the endorphins released by exercise can also have a calming effect when you are in the middle of an anxiety attack. So, if you are able, maybe go for a brisk walk or do a few jumping jacks when the thoughts start to come on very strongly?

And again, I think consulting a doctor because of the level of distress you are experiencing would be very worthwhile.

[EsthersDoll]

Marina22,

You don't have to worry about "contributing" to the forum before asking for help with issues you are dealing with.

You can always post a new thread with problems you are facing and if any of us are able to reply with some advice we will, regardless of how many posts you've made.

[xanadu00]

Marina,

What you are describing is a paradigm obsessive thought pattern with compulsive behaviors. In this case, the obsessive thought is the thought that the squirrel could have Rabies. This produces anxiety. The compusions are checking the web in order to reassure yourself that you could not have gotten Rabies from a squirrel, in an effort to alleviate the anxiety. These sorts of checking and reassurance behaviors may provide some relief in the short run, but they make the overall condition much worse in the long run, since they reinforce the unhealthy thought pattern and don't fully relieve the anxiety.

I would recommend getting a referral to see someone who specializes in OCD. Primary care doctors can give you a referral, but they are as useless in diagnising and managing OCD as they are in diagnosing and managing mTBI. It's also not enough to just see any psychologist or psychiatrist--not even one who specializes generally in anxiety disorders. What you want is someone who specializes in OCD and is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy.

If you want to learn more about OCD, I recommend reading Jonathan Grayson's book Freedom from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

The good news is that OCD is treatable, but (a) it doesn't just go away on its own, and (b) if you wait too long it can become more difficult to treat, since the habits and patterns you're trying to undo will be more entrenched.

Feel free to PM me if you have other questions about OCD. I have suffered from it since 1996 and have read most of the best-known books on it.

[OregonTrail]

Marina,

I don't blame you for freaking out. If it makes you feel any better, my son got bit by a squirrel while waiting for the school bus a few weeks ago. I freaked out and took him to the ER. After placing a few calls to the state, the ED doc concluded that it's almost impossible to transmit rabies from squirrel to human, despite the bite and subsequent bleeding. The wound was bandaged and no further treatment was required.

I had trouble believing this myself as I left the ED....

[Dolfinwolf]

Marina,

I know what you mean about feeling like you are dwelling on things when you post. It is okay though, and as you can see, a lot of support does come from what you post!

I hope that you find the help you need, and please let us know how you are doing. Look at it this way: you have helped others who may have had issues with obsessive thoughts as well, but they were too chicken to post about it! (meaning me, just so I don't offend anyone)

[Dolfinwolf]

Originally Posted by PlasticMonkey

I use to constantly check my pulse thinking that my heart rate was to fast and that i was going to have a heart attack at any given moment. Eventually i stopped thinking things like that, realizing i was only making my anxiety worse. And that may be what you're doing?

Although that was in the very beginning of my recovery, i still have obsessive thoughts from time to time. Mark In Idaho once told me when i was having derealization, to get busy with something like doing the dishes or taking a shower to get my mind off of it. And that really helped, Maybe try doing the same Marina22?

I know I posted thanks about this but it feels so good to know someone else did this too. It doesn't happen to me as much as it used to, but is still quite bothersome. I like the suggestion about doing other things. I will try it.