Anxiety, stress and more

Posted by freewishes (147 days ago)

I have a friend who has a great personality and he's able to get along great with people.

But inside of his mind, he's always anxious, feeling stress, he can't sleep and he can't set any goals or make any plans in his life and future freaks him out, and he has some problem called OCD. Also sometimes he can't realize what's going on, and he thinks things in a weird way.

All these problems have great impact in his life, I want to help him and I think he maybe should talk to some professional people.

I'd like somebody to tell me what can he do to change? and is there any professional people that he can talk to in HK, or Shenzhen or Guangzhou?

Thanks a lot.

(I am based in Guangzhou)

Posted by flashback (147 days ago)

Ask him why he thinks he has OCD, and if it has been diagnosed. OCD usually requires on-going treatment and many people are prescribed medications.

If he hasn't been diagnosed then he needs to go to a psychiatrist - not a psychologist - to get proper advice. He can get a referral from his doctor.

If he has already been diagnosed, then he may already be getting therapy or taking medications or is resisting the treatments. Find out which is the case.

Mental illness is a serious problem, and you are a good friend to be concerned about him.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by freewishes (146 days ago)

Thank you for the advice.

He hasn't been diagnosed, I think OCD is not the most serious problem for him. The biggest problem is that his mind can't work "properly". For instance, the other day he went to see The Police concert in Macau, and after he left the concert, he didn't realize what's going on, and he didn't think he was in the concert. And sometimes when he's having a conversation with people, he knew he was supposed to say no but he said yes, or the other around. And if I call him up and tell him and I'd like to talk to him, but I need to talk to him in person, he will be keep thinking about what I might want to say to him in a crazy way until I told him what is it about. He feel guilty all the time, and he's full of anxiety and stress, he can't sleep for a long long time. He's always judge what's right or wrong, most of the time he uses his energy to fight himself.

He hasn't been stable in his life for a long time too, he moved a lot, changed his job a lot.

I don't know if there's any professional words for these problems, but I guess a psychiatrist will help him, yes.

He's from Canada, and he will need to talk to somebody who speaks good english. He lives in GZ, so if there's anybody he can talk to in GZ or Shenzhen would be great.

Thank you

(I am based in Guangzhou)

Posted by flashback (146 days ago)

What you describe can be any number of complaints from dissociation to paranoia. Only a qualified person can help him, and he really needs a good diagnosis.

Perhaps you should post this thread on the Medical advice forum to get contacts in GZ. Also go through the existing posts and see if there are any recommendations for psychiartists in the regions you can get to. I'm sorry I don't know of anyone there.

However, your friend's behaviour is very strange, and needs attention. Being in a foreign country and experiencing increased stress may have trigged some of this dissociative behaviour, which he may not have suffered to this degree in his home country.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by freewishes (146 days ago)

Thank you again for the reply.

He had that kind of problems for years even when he lived in Canada, so it's not about the location.

(I am based in Guangzhou)

Posted by flashback (145 days ago)

The kind of long-term instability you mention, and his current difficulties point to a real psychiatric condition. I am surprised that he hasn't been referred to a specialist for a diagnosis by now.

However, a person must be willing to seek treatment to receive it. There may be only so much you can do if he won't make the effort himself.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Hila Rious (144 days ago)

stressed spelt backwards is desserts, so maybe he's just having some fun ?

(I am based in Hong Kong)