Concussion with seizure disorder | | Post-Concussion Syndrome

I want to develop a character who has DID derived from PTSD, which in turn arose from a four-day period of suffering different atrocities. The character has no explicit memories of this four-day period, but their subconscious locks it away to avoid the pain of trauma and develops disorders as a defense mechanism. In addition to the mentioned disorders, the character has developed a refusal to eat food due to an apparently irrational line of thought and sensation that if they eat, they would be hypocritical for something, and therefore, more guilty. The character has 5 personalities. So far, I've only been able to conceptualize 3: the assistant, the machine, and the monster.
The monster is the murderous and harmful personality. It's what the character most instinctively tries to avoid manifesting, even if they don't know exactly why. It's the embodiment of their potential evil, and its appearances are always accompanied by tension and suspense. Even if not actually manifested (or is it?), the mere fact of appearing in nightmares and hallucinations already triggers panic attacks in the character. This is the most mysterious personality because the character has doubts about the nature of this personality that doesn't offer many explanations beyond the simple fact that it knows everything about him and is playing and affecting him; Is it a personality or a distinct demon? Is it a delusion or is it real? Is it himself or a separate being pretending to be him to scare him? Is it capable of killing the personalities, and if so, why doesn't it do it immediately instead of leaving the personalities unharmed? Why psychologically torture him if the function of fragmented personalities is to help in self-preservation? If it's real, why does it let him escape at the end of its ''games''? This personality (or not) is physically the largest, the most technological, the most inhuman, and presents more feats of strength despite appearing less, all geared towards psychological torture mainly, a literal kind of haunting like Pennywise's. It wreaks psychological havoc on the character in each of its personalities, and the most sensitive one, which is the one the other personalities most try to avoid being impacted by the monster, is the assistant personality, the personality that personifies human essence and, being based on the Superego and Ego and reflecting the distant past spent with his deceased good mother whose values were transmitted in his childhood and adolescence, is the personality that tries to maintain order, predominate, and reunite the fragmented personalities, although this self-imposed role is not easy and it is difficult to deal with the fear of what could happen if people found out that he and the other four 'people' are actually the same person who has DID; it is difficult to represent order while his other parts are more inclined to chaos and there is no direct interaction between the personalities. The assistant personality has blindness, whose degree varies depending nuancemente on the external and internal security situation it feels, but is always present because it results from an unresolved trauma. Glasses are used, the only one who does this. Blindness is more present in the assistant personality and less manifested in the other personalities because they are more detached from humanity. The assistant personality is the most divergent from what the character was before DID. Its form is more human, shorter, and less cybernetic, precisely because it reflects a distant period from the current one of the character. (A side note: the character is, in a way, a shapeshifter, so its personalities have a distinct form, some more similar to each other and others less similar, and vice versa. The metamorphosis is restricted to the forms the character has already had in its life and afterlife, and those forms it did not have are a more adapted version of the personality concept). The assistant is the most sensitive personality and the one that most tries to be virtuous, and because of these characteristics, it is the most vulnerable to the monster.
The machine personality is the psychological barrier. A wall for any emotions. An internal shield for trauma. It looks like a robot, like a machine, both for sentimental and behavioral issues. It does not feel emotions, is extremely rational, and is very connected to technology. Indeed, it is the most technological personality in the purest sense of the word, while the monster personality is the most technological in the most monstrous sense. Its function is to offer a more impartial view of situations and, because of the monster, to be the most solid shield for the assistant personality not to be haunted directly (and possibly killed) by the monster.
There are 2 more personalities to develop, and I'm working on it since it's a new idea I had.
The character is Vox.
The conceptual ideas for this fanfic that I intend to create, combined with my hobby of self-studying psychology/psychoanalysis/psychiatry, made me realize that I attribute four disorders to Vox:
• DID: According to the DSM-5 criteria, to be considered DID it is necessary: ▪︎Two or more distinct identities or personality states are present, each with its own relatively enduring pattern of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about the environment and self. ▪︎Amnesia must occur, defined as gaps in the recall of everyday events, important personal information, and/or traumatic events. ▪︎The person must be distressed by the disorder or have trouble functioning in one or more major life areas because of the disorder. ▪︎The disturbance is not part of normal cultural or religious practices. ▪︎The symptoms cannot be due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (such as blackouts or chaotic behavior during alcohol intoxication) or a general medical condition (such as complex partial seizures).
• PTSD: Symptoms of PTSD fall into the following four categories. Specific symptoms can vary in severity.
Intrusion: Intrusive thoughts such as repeated, involuntary memories; distressing dreams; or flashbacks of the traumatic event. Flashbacks may be so vivid that people feel they are reliving the traumatic experience or seeing it before their eyes. Avoidance: Avoiding reminders of the traumatic event may include avoiding people, places, activities, objects and situations that may trigger distressing memories. People may try to avoid remembering or thinking about the traumatic event. They may resist talking about what happened or how they feel about it. Alterations in cognition and mood: Inability to remember important aspects of the traumatic event, negative thoughts and feelings leading to ongoing and distorted beliefs about oneself or others (e.g., “I am bad,” “No one can be trusted”); distorted thoughts about the cause or consequences of the event leading to wrongly blaming self or other; ongoing fear, horror, anger, guilt or shame; much less interest in activities previously enjoyed; feeling detached or estranged from others; or being unable to experience positive emotions (a void of happiness or satisfaction). Alterations in arousal and reactivity: Arousal and reactive symptoms may include being irritable and having angry outbursts; behaving recklessly or in a self-destructive way; being overly watchful of one's surroundings in a suspecting way; being easily startled; or having problems concentrating or sleeping. Many people who are exposed to a traumatic event experience symptoms similar to those described above in the days following the event. For a person to be diagnosed with PTSD, however, symptoms must last for more than a month and must cause significant distress or problems in the individual's daily functioning. Many individuals develop symptoms within three months of the trauma, but symptoms may appear later and often persist for months and sometimes years. PTSD often occurs with other related conditions, such as depression, substance use, memory problems and other physical and mental health problems.
The four tabs below provide brief descriptions of four conditions related to PTSD: acute stress disorder, adjustment disorder, disinhibited social engagement disorder, and reactive attachment disorder. Source: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ptsd/what-is-ptsd • Psychotic Depression: Psychotic depression Some people who have severe depression may also experience hallucinations and delusional thinking, the symptoms of psychosis.
Depression with psychosis is known as psychotic depression.
Symptoms of depression Someone with depression feels sad and hopeless for most of the day, practically every day, and has no interest in anything. Getting through the day feels almost impossible.
Other typical symptoms of depression may include:
fatigue (exhaustion) disturbed sleep changes in appetite feeling worthless and guilty being unable to concentrate or being indecisive thoughts of death or suicide Doctors describe depression as mild, moderate or severe depending on your symptoms, how long it lasts and how much it affects your daily life.
Read more about the psychological, physical and social symptoms of clinical depression
Symptoms of psychosis Having moments of psychosis (when people lose some contact with reality) means experiencing:
delusions – thoughts or beliefs that are unlikely to be true hallucinations – hearing and, in some cases, feeling, smelling, seeing or tasting things that are not there; hearing voices is a common hallucination The delusions and hallucinations almost always reflect the person's deeply depressed mood – for example, they may become convinced they're to blame for something, or that they've committed a crime.
"Psychomotor agitation" is also common. This means not being able to relax or sit still, and constantly fidgeting.
At the other extreme, a person with psychotic depression may have "psychomotor retardation", where both their thoughts and physical movements slow down.
People with psychotic depression have an increased risk of thinking about suicide. Source for more information: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/psychotic-depression/
• An as-yet unidentified eating disorder: This is the only one in which I do not know which exact diagnosis it fits into. It is a consequence of the trauma from the four-day period - including this period being one of the biggest mysteries in history and a great source of theories for readers, as it is the root of Vox's psychological mess, the divergence point that originated the entire fanfic and which the protagonist DOES NOT want to remember - that resulted in the trauma of eating. He does not feel like eating, not even the SIN OF GLUTTONY is able to make him eat - he is immune to her powers - and feels an apparently inexplicable instinct of guilt and hypocrisy when trying to eat, as if he were the worst being in the universe if he ate a food and a huge hypocrite; why and what exactly this innate thought of judging himself as a hypocrite is another mystery in the plot.
In this story, at least in the initial arcs, no one associates all five as being the same person, at most they associate only one/two of them with Vox. With the climaxes (yes, it's in the plural) throughout the story, the characters will find evidence and suspect and associate more and more of the other alters (as I call Vox's fragmented personalities) with the same person, which increases the narrative tension. Being the assistant personality the last to be accurately associated by the other characters, although she was the one that had the most tension and care in NOT being associated throughout the story because she is the human essence of Vox, reflects more the fragility of his soul state and is not ready to deal with the harsh social consequences that the actions of the other alters and Vox before DID caused, needing solid support and not wanting to lose all the friendly social relationships, although fragile, that he built as a separate being from Vox and the other alters. It is easier to hate than to love. The assistant personality does not want to risk losing the little support he has built. These relationships are extremely valuable to him. He doesn't want to have this taken away from him anymore. The relationships he built are based on the inhabitants of Hazbin Hotel.
All alters have Vox's trademark: the TV as
a head. All... except the assistant personality. This alter is the ONLY one that has a human head and is the smallest, being even a few centimeters smaller than Lucifer. The size of his hair goes up to just above his shoulders, but he ties them in a professional hairstyle. His clothes are similar to those of an assistant, and they have a palette of blue, black, and white colors. The color of his hair, influenced by his powers as a Media Demon, is black with dark blue streaks and tips.
His human appearance reflects a period when Vox was human. In my story Vox is a trans man, which means he was born female and went through a transition at some point in his adolescence or adulthood. The appearance of the assistant personality reflects an episode during his 13/14 years. In this episode, he did a special show for his father's assistant at a fancy restaurant. It was her last night in his life as she would unfortunately be sent away without a chance to return, and he was aware of this. He also knew that his father was responsible for her being sent away, although his innocence at the time made him not immediately detect that she would be KILLED by a hired hitman hired by the father and mother. The assistant was a loved one by the teenage Vox. She was a loving mother he never had, and because of the emotional attachment to her, he decided to do a musical show, showing for the first and last time to anyone his talent for piano and violin. He, at the time still not going through the transition, dressed more masculinely, used the best appearance he could, and used a pseudonym to enter the restaurant and make the presentation without being detected by the family. He did not explicitly specify for whom the music was intended, but the assistant, secretly his true biological mother, knew it was for her. That was the last time he would see her, and he made every second of that night count.
Vox's human female name was Elizabeth. I chose this name because it is a beautiful name, it was the name of the former queen of the United Kingdom, and it was the name of one of Jack the Ripper's victims, Elizabeth Stride.
Vox, during his adult life as a man and even post-death, buried his past as a woman. It was not a source of pride, especially for the family abuses suffered and the transphobia of the time. If the Vees, the people closest to him currently, do not have a deep understanding of Vox's human life as a man, imagine their knowledge of the initial part of his life before the transition!
That's why being called "Elizabeth" during the direct and indirect appearances of the monster personality already causes genuine and unmasked panic in him. It is an indication of knowledge of his deepest layers.
The story has a suspenseful atmosphere, with some horror scenes. We follow the alters individually, and as the story progresses, we realize along with the protagonist some strange, wrong things. The alters do not communicate directly with each other and, therefore, the character does not immediately perceive the signs of having multiple personalities. It was as if there were four people in one body and none of them noticed, according to the perspective of the assistant personality, the alter that we slowly follow discovering the huge web of the situation he's in. There's something very wrong with Vox, more specifically his soul. But there's an invisible barrier that prevents the character from investigating further, like an elephant in the middle of the room. Each alter has its own course, all acting as if they were distinct people and not associating with each other. This is bad socially speaking in the long run, because sooner or later the clash of beliefs and values built among the alters will come into conflict and the individual consequences of their actions will negatively impact each other. The monster personality served to add more salt to the wound. It is by far the most harmful, appearing little but causing a huge mess in return. Don't think of it as a kind of Hulk, because Hulk is a destructive monster that his counterpart, Bruce, can try to control and turn into a hero, and everyone is aware of Hulk's nature, which is easy to understand and try to contain; whereas the monster personality is an enigma at the same time as it is a nightmare, there is no discussion with it, it causes psychological terror in Vox's alters, its apparently internal actions affect the external world of the alters, it is unpredictable, it is the literal meaning of hell. The monster personality has already caused physical harm to the alters, although they did not exactly remember, mainly the assistant personality, the most oblivious of all for a reason. I want to relate the monster personality to Roo.

I have recently been diagnosed with OCD. My therapist says that I’ve probably had it my whole life and that I’m already decently insightful about my obsessions and compulsions. Lately, I’ve been dealing with non-stop paranoid thoughts about my memory and imagination, it's been a huge obstruction to the process of going on about my days. I want to stop thinking like this, every time I am mindful about me doing it I try my best to address it and shut it out, but the only problem is that there is some form of logic and reason behind it that makes these obsessions a lot more practical, which supposes importance to me.
I can't pinpoint when or how it began, but I remember realizing that I can’t remember, or, sometimes can only vaguely remember what happened the day before. I started testing myself every day about it which may have turned into obsessing that would make it a little more difficult for anyone to remember a previous day. A lot of things worried me from then until now, but recently it’s been about my capability to picture things in detail and the loss of my autobiographical memories/general knowledge.
It’s like I’m in a constant loop of brain farts, I know that I haven’t completely forgotten everything because I know that I knew that information before and when I am reminded of it I have slight ideas or familiarity with it in my head.
I am also suspected of having a dissociative disorder, mostly by myself, but my therapist wants me to get a psychological evaluation for this. This makes me think that it could be dissociative amnesia, but I won’t have a psych evaluation anytime soon because the wait list is around 2 years long (no people in the area qualified to do it?). So these are my practical reasons behind it being a mental health problem, I have also been diagnosed with anxiety and depression which I have read could have impact on short term memory, but I don’t know if that is exactly my problem. I don’t know how much of a role OCD could have in it mentally, but I’d assume it to be more than I think it could.
Physical reasons: I have hit my head a lot. I’ve had 2 concussions. Im super paranoid that it could be a brain tumor or brain damage from past experience with drugs and using wrong smoking equipment/method/solvents for dabs. And another reason I think could play a factor was that I was on Zoloft when I was 13-almost 15 or something like that.
Anyways, I really want to fix this. I tell myself equally that it is just mental health or something physical, but in all reality I have no thought that I truly believe.
Btw I’m 18 if that helps. Thank you.

Idk what subreddit to post this in. I'm 21 f
All I want is go to go back to the eating disorder psych ward. I was there almost 8 times growing up, most recent 4 months ago.
I binge and purge every so often but my main problem is my drinking. I started having seizures bc I tried to quit cold turkey and realized ok I literally need to drink to function.
My dr wants me to detox in a clinic and then go to rehab.
I refuse to go anywhere else unless it's the ED psych ward. I met amazing people there including a nurse I fell in love with and think about on the daily. I know that's disgusting but I truly did and I cry about it often. He used to have to strap me to beds and sedate me and it just made me feel comforted because nobody tried to save me from myself before. it's not worth it to go anywhere else because I wouldnt feel safe anywhere else.
I figured I could detox there because I did before but my bf is against it and would rather me go to rehab. I know it's wrong to have a crush on someone else while I'm with someone but my bf treats me horribly because of my mental health so I think its reasonable to fall in love with someone who actually takes care of me. I'm painfully upset because I havent met a lot of good people in life and I met a lot of good nurses and staff at that place. I'm so sad that I can't go back. I wish I could go back to my ED instead of alcoholism.
I'd rather die than get sober quite frankly.
Especially because I know I'll never be with this nurse from the psych ward. This is awful but I even messaged him on Facebook telling him I was trafficked and that I need help so bad and that I'm in love with him. But then I deleted it and blocked him because I didnt want him to get fired from his job. I'm so embarrassed

So about half a year ago while I (27 AFAB at the time) was at work my arm began tingling. It happened while I was crocheting so I attributed it to poor posture but took note of the time (just after 3pm) and continued working until 5pm. By the time I got off work my pinky and ring finger on my right hand became difficult to use. I drove home (hindsight this was really stupid of me to do) and an hour later when it hadn't gotten better I asked my brother to take me to the ER.
While there I told them that given the symptoms I was having (numbness on one side, and partial paralysis) and that I had started a new birth control a month prior that I was worried about the possibility of a stroke. They checked for the more obvious signs of stroke (facial droop, delayed eye dilation, blood tests, etc.) and noted that I had weakness in my right arm as well as tachycardia. They asked my brother about my behavior and if I was acting off, which he said I was not.
When the blood tests came back they informed me that my d-dimer was elevated. I wasn't told how much it was elevated. They referred me to CT to check for a pulmonary embolism. CT showed a normal healthy chest and I was sent home with a diagnosis of pinched ulnar nerve.
Over the next two days I proceeded to be incapable of eating or drinking anything, if I slept it was not for more than an hour at a time and I woke up in a cold sweat. My arm went from tingly and partially paralyzed to dead meat attached to my body. I could not move it, and could only lift at the shoulder. I woke my brother up at 3am to take me back to the ER. I informed them of the new symptoms, as well as the worsening of the previous symptoms.
This time it felt very dismissive. I was not being heard. I got sent to MRI to check again for a pulmonary embolism which again showed nothing. I told them I felt like I had really bad brain fog and my arm felt like it was in ice water. I was told this was normal for a pinched ulnar nerve. They gave me nerve glides to do, a prescription for 600mg of ibuprofen, and a referral to a neurologist. I asked them before I left if it was a good idea to fly as I had a vacation starting the next day, I was told it was fine.
So I went on my vacation, flying from one coast of the US to the other. It was 7hrs after I landed and was picked up from the airport where it started to go downhill and rapidly.
I still couldn't eat, and I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep so I bummed a gummy off a friend and started getting ready to go to bed. After this is a complete haze for me but I will list the events as I was later told:

While walking to bed I blacked out. This was me dropping while I had my first tonic-clonic seizure of the night. My friend miraculously caught me and made sure I didn't hit my head, while my other friend took charge of the situation.
My seizure lasted approximately 2 minutes, and when it looked like I was coming out of my postictal state pretty quickly they decided to drive me to the ER
At the ER I had another seizure while they were taking me to get a CT scan of my brain. After this I was taken to MRI. I was considered medically confused and was incapable of staying still. I was given two doses of Ativan to try to keep me still long enough to get something from the MRI
MRI was sent to a neurologist at another hospital who was able to see on the VERY blurry images that I was having a stroke. She teleconferenced in to assess my state, asking the nurse to essentially check if I was brain dead. My friend who was with me the entire time was the one to actually wake me up.
I was then transferred to a bigger hospital's ICU for care when I was stable.

I dropped on Tuesday night. I remember bits and pieces of Tuesday night, and the following Wednesday, but I was not conscious and aware until Thursday morning. I woke up, realized I had a catheter, and I was PISSED.
In the few hours after the medical staff learned I was actually with it. I was informed not only that I had a stroke, but that I had a rare form of stroke. It was a Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis. They were shocked that the previous hospital had not continued to look for something and dismissed me. I was then informed that my d-dimer was 1.03 (where a 0.50 was the maximum threshold for a normal d-dimer), my glucose upon being admitted was severely elevated, and they didn't know how bad it was because they had not yet been able to get a clear image of my brain.
Throughout my ICU stay I learned I was extremely lucky to be alive, you can't trust every doctor, and to always be accompanied by someone who will advocate for you. Also birth control sucks and my friends are amazing.
I spent my 28th birthday in the ER.
I now live in the state where I was finally diagnosed properly and I am communicating with a lawyer for a malpractice lawsuit. I have had up to 20 appointments a month just for things related to my stroke and am coming to terms with things that just might not get better. I'm taking 4 different medications for the after affects of the stroke, and I might just have to remain on 3 of them as it's possible I now have an epileptic disorder. We wont know for sure until my brain is given more time to heal but my recent EEG still shows abnormal brain activity.
I think overall I have a pretty solid case, especially given the shock of the paralegal as I explained what happened. But sometimes I second guess it and it worries me.

I have recently been diagnosed with OCD. My therapist says that I’ve probably had it my whole life and that I’m already decently insightful about my obsessions and compulsions. Lately, I’ve been dealing with non-stop paranoid thoughts about my memory and imagination, it's been a huge obstruction to the process of going on about my days. I want to stop thinking like this, every time I am mindful about me doing it I try my best to address it and shut it out, but the only problem is that there is some form of logic and reason behind it that makes these obsessions a lot more practical, which supposes importance to me.
I can't pinpoint when or how it began, but I remember realizing that I can’t remember, or, sometimes can only vaguely remember what happened the day before. I started testing myself every day about it which may have turned into obsessing that would make it a little more difficult for anyone to remember a previous day. A lot of things worried me from then until now, but recently it’s been about my capability to picture things in detail and the loss of my autobiographical memories/general knowledge.
It’s like I’m in a constant loop of brain farts, I know that I haven’t completely forgotten everything because I know that I knew that information before and when I am reminded of it I have slight ideas or familiarity with it in my head.
I am also suspected of having a dissociative disorder, mostly by myself, but my therapist wants me to get a psychological evaluation for this. This makes me think that it could be dissociative amnesia, but I won’t have a psych evaluation anytime soon because the wait list is around 2 years long (no people in the area qualified to do it?). So these are my practical reasons behind it being a mental health problem, I have also been diagnosed with anxiety and depression which I have read could have impact on short term memory, but I don’t know if that is exactly my problem. I don’t know how much of a role OCD could have in it mentally, but I’d assume it to be more than I think it could.
Physical reasons: I have hit my head a lot. I’ve had 2 concussions. Im super paranoid that it could be a brain tumor or brain damage from past experience with drugs and using wrong smoking equipment/method/solvents for dabs. And another reason I think could play a factor was that I was on Zoloft when I was 13-almost 15 or something like that.
Anyways, I really want to fix this. I tell myself equally that it is just mental health or something physical, but in all reality I have no thought that I truly believe.
Btw I’m 18 if that helps. Thank you.

Idk what subreddit to post this in. I'm 21 f
All I want is go to go back to the eating disorder psych ward. I was there almost 8 times growing up, most recent 4 months ago.
I binge and purge every so often but my main problem is my drinking. I started having seizures bc I tried to quit cold turkey and realized ok I literally need to drink to function.
My dr wants me to detox in a clinic and then go to rehab.
I refuse to go anywhere else unless it's the ED psych ward. I met amazing people there including a nurse I fell in love with and think about on the daily. I know that's disgusting but I truly did and I cry about it often. He used to have to strap me to beds and sedate me and it just made me feel comforted because nobody tried to save me from myself before. it's not worth it to go anywhere else because I wouldnt feel safe anywhere else.
I figured I could detox there because I did before but my bf is against it and would rather me go to rehab. I know it's wrong to have a crush on someone else while I'm with someone but my bf treats me horribly because of my mental health so I think its reasonable to fall in love with someone who actually takes care of me. I'm painfully upset because I havent met a lot of good people in life and I met a lot of good nurses and staff at that place. I'm so sad that I can't go back. I wish I could go back to my ED instead of alcoholism.
I'd rather die than get sober quite frankly.
Especially because I know I'll never be with this nurse from the psych ward. This is awful but I even messaged him on Facebook telling him I was trafficked and that I need help so bad and that I'm in love with him. But then I deleted it and blocked him because I didnt want him to get fired from his job. I'm so embarrassed

Age 50
Sex F
Height 5"3
Weight 135
Race Caucasian
Duration of complaint n/a
Location usa
Any existing relevant medical issues detailed in post
Current medications none at time in question
Include a photo if relevant n/a
edit for rule following- asking this question because it is now personally effecting me: I need to know if it's possible that there's a rare hereditary platelet disorder in my family, or if it's just alcoholism, because my child requires a surgery and their hematologist basically left it up to me whether I wanted to pursue testing since the relatives is so inconclusive.
original post:
A family member recently had two surgeries - a craniotomy for an unruptured aneurysm (which was done emergently as the patient had a seizure) and then a thyroidectomy / lymph node removal. Post op courses of both were slow with excessive bruising, they required draining of blood collection multiple times after the removal of the lymph nodes.
A Hematology work up was negative for all the common issues (such as Von Willebrands). It was basically concluded to be an unidentifiable platelet issue (possibly PAI1)
It is suspected that this person was drinking to excess at the time, but they denied it both to family and to their medical team (it was reported as "occasional social drinking").
I know that alcohol can cause bleeding, but my question is how much drinking would it take to cause a problem like this, and would they have needed to actually be drinking within the immediate time frames of the surgeries themselves, or would significant alcohol abuse in the same time as the issues be enough to cause this problem.
Thanks!

I recently took in my younger autistic brother. I am struggling as it is. If I didn't take him he would have gone to foster care. The home I am currently staying in doesn't have working water due to the pipes freezing and I don't currently have the funds to fix them. A family friend bought a house unseen in auction to help me out because I've been struggling with housing insecurity. He would rent it to me extremely cheap with the expectation I will buy it eventually but because it was site unseen he doesn't know what problems it would have so that was up to me other than the roof. I have cleaned it because it was basically a hoarder house and filled with mice. I filled all mouse holes, painted, fixed a hole in the ceiling, fixed the yard (the city had showed up and I begged them for a few more days), and the mouse poop was hazardous I probably shampooed the carpet 20x. What I still need are more hot water pipes, a grounding wire, a stove, a lawnmower, a hot water heater, a new toilet, more paint, etc. I had been here about three weeks when I got the call from my mom. My brother has autism, adhd, and oppositional defiance disorder. My mom called said he wasn't welcome there my step dad was on his way to the hospital because my brother had hit him. My brother is 6'5 350 lbs. Last time my step dad had to have eye surgery luckily this time it was just a concussion but he's over 55. I told my mom I didn't have water she said I don't care if you don't come get him I'm giving him to cps. I have somewhere we have been going to shower, go to the bathroom and can haul water from but it's just not sustainable.
https://gofund.me/06ab253f

TL;DR: ^{Struggled with social interactions, obsessive tendencies, and learning difficulties throughout life. Diagnosed with multiple conditions including Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 2 and anxiety disorders. Unemployed since 2019, unable to find accommodating work due to conditions. Considering applying for disability benefits but unsure of eligibility. Feeling lost and overwhelmed.}
My whole life I've had a hard time relating with people, connecting with people, making eye contact, enjoying the same things as others. I always tended to obsess on something for example if I took a part-time job I would burn myself out because I couldn't help but focus on work after work. To the point I'd break rules to login to resources and do research off the clock, resulting in me being fired.
When I was a child I would be more excited about the box the gift came in that I could hide in from everyone, instead of the gift itself. I didn't ever like parties with lots of kids, I would tend to hide until the party was over and call my mom until she came and picked me up. I couldn't handle kids tapping pencils in the class so my teacher would put me in the hallway, this to me was a treat not a punishment. I don't like making eye contact it feels really weird and I'm not good at it. When I practiced it someone said I creeped them out because I would just stare straight into their eyes without breaking contact like normal so I just avoid it altogether.
Anyhow a lot of these issues I adapted to pretty decently until I turned 30 and realized the stuff wasn't improving even with a few years of weekly therapy sessions with 2 different psychotherapists. Always struggled with panic attacks and chronic anxiety. I also have never been able to learn math equasions for example x = y type stuff. My brain goes "Why is a letter in math" and I used to read and write backwards.
I recently got engaged and my FIance after spending 8 months with me said she thinks somethings off, "No offense". None taken.. Anyways.. I saw a top psychologist in my state and spent a few hours on a few different occasions with them. Took some tests and they told me I have:

Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Mathematics Learning Disability
Post Concussion Syndrome (Severe TBI in a motor vehicle accident 2013)
Panic Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 2

I know it's a laundry list. I have been unemployed since 2019 I only am able to work side jobs anymore. I just have constant panic attacks that have been unmanaged with medications and psychotherapy so I actually quit going to therapy and seeing a shrink. Therefor I only have 12 work credits on my record which I've read some of those fall off every 5 years.
I'm just wondering, do I even have a chance in hell at applying for SSI/SSDI or any type of assistance or am I going to have to try and find a job that will accomodate me or something? I have yet to find one of those by the way. I am very forthcoming with my conditions and typically this results in no hire. I have applied for over 100 jobs since 2019. I've heard back from a dozen or so, and the rest just likely throw my application in the trash.
I don't understand anything about disability or social security and my mom has told me I need to try and apply for benefits. Is it worth my time at all having only 12 work credits? Am I even eligible for SSI or SSDI? I don't know what to do anymore I'm feeling kinda depressed now because I have lived my whole life in a lie it feels like. I have had to always do things that "normal" people do and it has ground me into the dirt. I was very lucky to meet my fiancee online and we ended up talking for a few months before meeting in person. SHe loves me to death, I love her very much too although it took me a long time to learn what I was actually feeling and learn how to commit myself and be a good Fiance.
I just don't know anymore what to do, where to turn, who to ask.. Thank you.
p.s My mother never took me to a doctor even though family and friends of hers always told her something was wrong with me and that she needed to. My aunt used to tell her I had asperger's or something. She was afraid they'd medicate me. I kinda got screwed in that sense now that I am learning more about this process..

Temazepam is contraindicated if you have seizures or breathing issues and so is Latuda. Temazepam is also contraindicated with antipsychotics, which is what Latuda is used for. Latuda is contraindicated with sleep meds, which would be the Temazepam and also anxiety meds which is the Buspar. So you have someone that supposedly has seizures and COPD and she was just prescribed three meds that are all contraindicated for someone that has seizures or COPD. I don’t think so. Then taking Buspar with Adderall can intensify insomnia, agitation, and other psychological disorders. So they are going to give her two meds that can cause issues that she is already being treated for??? Sorry but I don’t think so. No doctor will prescribe all of these at once without seeing the patient in the office to do a full assessment and at least get medical records. She clearly didn’t tell this doctor that she has had seizures and has COPD then and I doubt the doctor is going to prescribe meds like that without finding out. That’s a malpractice lawsuit waiting to happen. So many lies. So do you have COPD and seizures Big D because you don’t if you were prescribed all those meds contraindicated with those conditions. Did you really have an appointment today for behavioral health or was that your PCP appointment??? Let’s see the MyChart after visit. I’d like to see that anyway to see if it was actually a MyChart Video Visit.

I’ve posted in here before but I thought I would do it again.
I’ve had a string of bad things happen to me the last few years that started with being diagnosed with bipolar disorder- dropping out of my dream grad school program because I was in the hospital and missed the final paper, quitting my job during a manic period and really regretting it, seizures from overheating on psych medication and moving from a city I really loved back to around my hometown due to all the consequences of that situation.
My life hadn’t been the easiest beforehand so I thought I had some resiliency, but this has made me really miserable and disconnected from my own surroundings/my own life. I have an intense feeling that I’m in the “wrong reality” - like maybe I died after one of my seizures or something (I’ve posted in Quantum Immortality before too), and I am desperate to get back.
I really liked my life beforehand and where it was going. I don’t like all the things I used to like - doing my makeup, picking out outfits, doing more creative stuff - and it feels like more than depression and things around me seem bizarre.
I’m in therapy and have been to neurologists and more intensive mental health programs, so I know I don’t have dissociative disorder or anything like that.
It’s just a feeling that something is seriously wrong with my life - more than just the job, moving, etc. I have fantasies of going back in time and not quitting my job or trying to work it out with my grad program so I could have stayed. Even going back further in time in my life so I could make different choices would be fine with me.
It’s difficult to describe but it’s just much more than not being able to accept what happened and moving on. It’s an intense feeling when I wake up that I’m unable to shake throughout the day, and more feels “wrong” and unfamiliar than the circumstances. I’m not living up to my full creative or spiritual potential, and there has been some split between me and my higher purpose.
Ive spoken to my therapist, my family and friends about it and they’ve tried to give me advice but none of them could relate to how I feel and really didn’t want to entertain any ideas that were kooky or out there.
I don’t want to hear any armchair diagnosis, but if anyone can relate or has any open-minded advice on changing my reality, please share.

hey, this is my first reddit post and i'll try to be as precise as possible and not prolong this too much.so sorry for grammar mistakes or if this seems chaotic i really don't know where else to turn.
so it all started before i was born. my mom is a woman raised where i was raised as well and my dad came from a country near by due to war. my mom was raised by an abusive mom (my abusive grandma) and by an absent dad(my grandpa was working a lot in the US). my dad was raised by okish parents, his dad died of lung cancer which is a thing my dad never overcame, and my grandma was a teacher who was strict but my dad has a lot of siblings so i guess they managed.
my mom has a brother who is older then her and is a successful businessman. my dad is the oldest of them 4, and is a teacher as well.
my mom and dad met bc of my dad being a teachers assistant and my mom going to his lessons. he is 7 yrs older then my mom so its not as weird as it sounds. eventually they started dating and got me in March of 2000. they divorced in 2006. officially, and were not together since 2004.
so early on i was in care of my abusive mom. she was emotionally and physically abusive from my first memory since 2014. when i decided to run away from "home" forever. i never had a place to call home. my moms place was always cluttered and i could not get any privacy o relax for a second or she would loose her shit. she was diagnosed with depression and cancer in 2017. and that crushed her to a spiraling depression and led me to be forever scared. my mom was so abusive that i had to put foundation on to cover bruises when i was 9 or 10. she called me a slut, garbage, a failure, a bitch etc. all of that stuck to me till this day. i was a straight A student but if i were to get B or god forbid B- i was punished in front of my friends, my relatives or at home. NOBODY SEEMED TO CARE. but everybody knew.
my dad had a very good job at the time. he had quite a bit of money so he'd send some to my mom to spend on me but now remembering i cant say that i remember her spending that amount on me. also i had no concept of money. i was a child. then i hit the age of 10\11 and developed some idea that this was not normal. so every time my mom would harm me i would find a way to call my dad and be crying and begging him to come and get me. i loved my dad the most back then. he would always brush it off or say we'll go to grandmas this weekend but it was only Wednesday so will i survive till then? but it didnt matter i trusted that man with my life.
and so after endless sleepless nights (thats why im short btw) and the never ending abuse, my dad would randomly show up and pick me up from like kinder garden or school like a was some kind of a cute lil pet. and not just that! he would buy me that one thing i wanted as all kids i think at least, have that one thing they like. so he'd buy it for me. and we would go to Mc Donalds since my mom forbid me that kind of food (i was a model and played flute so i ate only small amount of usually boiled rice and fish). so based on all this my dad was a superhero. i loved that man so much.
i forgot to mention but, i was in a mental institution since my dads wife is a doctor and a bitch so she thought it was a good idea to lock me up with seriously dangerous kids and make me stay there for 20 days till it was claimed that i am ok, just has a teenage behavior. i think i will never forgive them for that. im not sure but i think it was 2016.
until October of 2014. i decided to end this vicious cycle. my mom was hitting me and i had enough. i punched back. hard. and i ran through that door like my dad did and never looked back. mom and dad were looking for me for the whole night since i didnt grab my phone while all this was happening. i didnt care. i was with a guy who ended up to be the love of my life and would be killed by his friend in 2018.
after all of this i started to realize i was not small and vulnerable as i was before. so i started to live on the streets. i didnt eat, sleep or shower at home. sometimes i would sleep in front of peoples doors in buildings. i started to fail school. and again it was all my fault. my whole life was my fault. always.
one day my dad had enough since he was always looking for me and not sleeping. so he decided to put me in a campus while im in high school. thats not rly common over here btw. so i went. and i was mad since 150km from my hometown was a lot and my bf(that dude i talked abt already) was in jail so i felt like i was in jail too. i was bullied a lot. and s/harassed. my parents have no idea abt this tho.
so 2018. rolles up. my mom has survived cancer, my dad is proud cuz i graduated and everything seems to be fine. but it rly wasnt. as i mentioned my bf was k!lled that summer(a few days before his birthday) so i was completely alone now. i had some relationships but they didnt matter at all. i was and maybe still am, dead inside.
after that summer i came back to my hometown. this time my dad has planned for me to stay at my grandmas since shes far away from the city center and also has a whole house to her. thats when i developed a bunch of mental disorders, had my first panic attack, went to the hospital o the daily bases, was harassed on the street and had to seek help from a psychiatrist again. only this time i found out that i had depression and this and that and the other. after months of trying to figure out what is wrong with me my latest dr said that it was cptsd and anxiety and since then i have never been the same.
i have had recently an epileptic seizure as well so i am now 10x more terrified of the world. i cant go anywhere without really preparing for it. i was paralyzed for months and suddenly i live w my now boyfriend who doesn't understand shit, have parents who aren't capable of helping led alone love, and with a few friends. and a mean like 3 friends.
i feel so bad. i feel like i don't want to live anymore. please help me im too embarrassed to talk to anyone.
tnx if u read

Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is the subject of heated debate. How are mast cell activation syndromes defined? Which diseases are included? What is the diagnosis and treatment of mast cell activation syndrome? Prof. Dr. Knut Brockow, Clinic and Polyclinic for Dermatology and Allergology at the Biederstein, Technical University of Munich answers these questions in an interview with MeinAllergiePortal.
Mast cell activation syndrome: The most important facts!
-The prototype of mast cell activation syndrome is recurrent anaphylaxis
-Other forms of idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome are being sought; however, there are mainly symptom descriptions where the diagnosis cannot be made
-Clinical suspicion of MCAS is based on recurring allergy-like symptoms on the skin, nose, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and circulation
-The diagnosis of MCAS is made according to recognized international criteria based on three criteria
-MCAS is often suspected even when symptoms are inappropriate and the diagnosis is unclear; the suspicion is then not helpful for patients
-The same medications are used to treat MCAS as are used to treat allergies, in particular antihistamines and cromoglicic acid
Prof. Brockow, what kind of disease is MCAS?
Mast cell activation syndrome is not an established diagnosis, but rather a concept. Historically, this concept arose because an increasing number of patients came to the doctor's office with complaints that gave the impression of having been triggered by mast cells. These patients sometimes showed symptoms similar to those of allergic reactions, anaphylaxis or mastocytosis, but a clear diagnosis for these diseases could not be made. Nevertheless, it was suspected that there could at least be a connection with mast cell diseases. Unfortunately, the term MCAS created more uncertainty than understanding. This is because MCAS is now thrown around as a diagnosis for many patients with many symptoms and an unclear diagnosis. This is not helpful for patients and fuels short-term hope of diagnosis and cure, which cannot be fulfilled later.
Is MCAS an autoimmune disease?
No, in autoimmune diseases mast cells are not primarily involved and not as lead cells, but lymphocytes that attack the body's own structures, in some cases by forming antibodies.
Is there a connection between mast cell activation syndrome and autoimmune diseases?
No, there is no known connection between MCAS and autoimmune diseases. It has also been claimed by specific authors that other diseases, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) are related to mast cell activation syndrome. However, there are no good arguments for this. Unfortunately, such claims are easy to make and difficult to refute.
What is the cause of mast cell activation syndrome?
Mast cell activation syndrome is actually more of a symptom description than a diagnosis in its own right. Mast cell activation syndrome is fully applicable to recurrent anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions in several organ systems such as the skin, respiratory tract, digestive tract and circulatory system), for example due to insect bites. All the criteria for mast cell activation syndrome are met here. Severe allergic reactions are the most common cause of MCAS. However, although the term MCAS is correct in this context, it does not provide any additional information, as patients with such events are better described as patients with a diagnosis of anaphylaxis or allergy, and the term MCAS is somewhat confusing.
Is mast cell activation syndrome genetic?
MCAS itself is not genetic, but patients with the genetic disease mastocytosis often suffer from anaphylaxis, particularly to insect venom, and therefore MCAS. In addition, it is currently being investigated whether people with genetically determined hereditary alpha-tryptasemia suffer more frequently from MCAS.
How did the term mast cell activation syndrome come about?
There were many patients without a clear diagnosis, some of whom predominantly showed the symptoms typical of mast cell diseases. Accordingly, the experts dealing with mast cell diseases saw the need to develop a concept that took into account the “undiagnosable” symptoms of the patients. In the course of this, the terms “mast cell activation” and “mast cell activation syndrome” were defined. In addition, an attempt was made to sort all mast cell diseases into a classification with regard to mast cell activation. However, the difficulty in classifying these complaints is that many of the complaints described by patients are subjective, relatively non-specific and can be both organic and psychosomatic.
How have you defined mast cell diseases and which diseases do they include?
Mast cell diseases are defined as recurring chronic symptoms that are compatible with mast cell activation.
Mast cell activation is classified on the basis of three criteria:
Recurrent typical clinical symptoms in at least two organ systems
An increase in mast cell mediators can be detected in the blood, most frequently by determining the serum tryptase level during an acute attack
Good response of symptoms to anti-mast cell mediator-directed therapy, especially H1 antihistamines
What types of mast cell disease are there?
The classification of mast cell diseases associated with mast cell activation syndromes defines three groups:
1. primary mast cell activation syndrome
Primary mast cell activation syndrome is explained by a clonal expansion of mutated overactive mast cells. It manifests as systemic or cutaneous mastocytosis. If these criteria are not completely fulfilled, but clonal mast cells have been detected, it is referred to as monoclonal mast cell activation syndrome.
2 Secondary mast cell activation syndrome
Secondary mast cell activation syndrome is present when clear triggers of mast cell activation are known. There are established terms for secondary mast cell activation syndrome that we are more familiar with, such as “anaphylaxis” to a known trigger. The classification in the second group of mast cell diseases is therefore merely a reclassification. Examples of mast cell activation are physical urticaria or cold urticaria. Allergies such as pollen allergies are also secondary mast cell activations, as hay fever also causes symptoms typical of mast cell diseases. In pollen allergies, mast cell mediators are found in the blood serum and drugs directed against mast cells have a good effect. If the symptoms recur in several organ systems, this is referred to as mast cell activation syndrome.
3. tertiary or idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome
Tertiary or idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome refers to mast cell diseases whose triggers are unknown. This group would include, for example, chronic spontaneous urticaria, which has additional symptoms in other organs. Here we know that mast cells are activated, but not by what. This group of idiopathic mast cell activation syndromes would also include patients with as yet undescribed clinical pictures who do not fulfill the diagnostic criteria of known mast cell diseases, e.g. allergy, anaphylaxis, but in whom the disease is triggered by mast cells. In these patients, however, the connection between the symptoms and the activities of the mast cells must be proven.
Does this mean that tertiary or idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion?
Idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome can be described as a diagnosis of exclusion insofar as the prerequisite for the diagnosis is that there is no other disease causing the symptoms. However, the symptoms described are often very, very unspecific and could also be caused by a variety of other diseases. However, there are the three criteria for mast cell activation syndrome already mentioned. If these are not all fulfilled, this diagnosis cannot be made.
How common is mast cell activation syndrome?
Anaphylaxis and severe recurrent allergies are not uncommon and represent the vast majority of appropriate cases for MCAS. In addition, mastocytosis patients often have multiple anaphylaxis and therefore also MCAS. However, our initial idea of finding a new disease, idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome, has not yet been confirmed. There are many patients with many symptoms for whom a clear organic diagnosis cannot yet be made. However, it is almost never possible to prove that a defect in the mast cells is primarily responsible for the symptoms. Many of these patients describe symptoms that could fit, and in some patients anti-allergic drugs also have a positive effect. But in only very few patients can an increase in mast cell mediators be detected during an acute attack. I now believe that somatic stress disorders could play a significant role in many of the patients examined.
Histamine intolerance is also a diagnosis of exclusion, is there a connection with mast cell activation syndrome?
Histamine intolerance can cause similar symptoms, but is not a mast cell disorder and has nothing to do with MCAS. When mast cells are activated, the messenger substance histamine is released, which in turn can cause symptoms. In histamine intolerance, the mast cell is not activated - it is not involved in any way. Rather, histamine intolerance describes patients with an increased sensitivity to histamine, which is supplied, for example, via the diet. This can lead to similar symptoms, but in contrast to mast cell activation syndrome, histamine intolerance has a clear trigger, histamine. As a result, the symptoms occur after eating histamine-rich foods, but disappear again if the patient follows a low-histamine diet. A test is also available to diagnose histamine intolerance.
So there are also patients with suspected mast cell activation syndrome who cannot be assigned to a classification group, even though they have corresponding symptoms?
There are many patients in whom no mast cell activation syndrome can be detected despite suspicion. They do not fit into one of the three groups. However, this also used to include monoclonal mast cell activation syndrome. These patients showed anaphylaxis and a KIT mutation, but not the full criteria for mastocytosis. In the meantime, a separate disease diagnosis has been created for these patients. The independent accepted disease of these patients therefore lies between mastocytosis and normal findings.
We thought that there might be other forms of idiopathic MCAS with clinical pictures that have not yet been described. However, this is not supported by the findings to date. There are patients who show symptoms but do not meet the necessary criteria for idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome. In these patients, the diagnosis remains unclear. In how many of these patients functional physical complaints play a role still needs to be investigated.
Are there risk factors that favor mast cell activation syndrome?
There are hardly any recognized studies on this. In a study conducted by Cem Akin in the USA, patients were examined who met the three criteria for idiopathic mast cell activation syndrome. They had the right symptoms, there was an increase in mediators and their symptoms improved with treatment. It was shown that many of these patients suffered from urticaria factitia, a scratch-induced urticaria, abdominal pain and flushing.
Recently, a genetic trait was discovered, hereditary alpha-tryptasemia with elevated basal serum tryptase levels. In patients with this trait and insect venom allergy, the severity of the allergic reaction appears to be increased. It is also discussed that the frequency of mast cell activation syndrome is increased in patients with this genetic trait. However, the published studies are not yet unanimous in this respect.
What symptoms can occur with MCAS?
The following symptoms could be signs of mast cell activation syndrome:
MCAS symptoms on the skin:
Appearance of sudden intense redness (flushing)
itching
wheal formation
Deep wheal formation (angioedema or Quincke's edema)
MCAS symptoms on the nose:
Nasal congestion
Nasal itching
MCAS symptoms in the airways:
Swelling of the upper airways
Wheezing
Shortness of breath
MCAS symptoms of the digestive tract:
Vomiting
abdominal pain
diarrhea
Systemic MCAS symptoms:
Syncope - where you suddenly lose consciousness, but only for a short time
Sudden drop in blood pressure
Allergic shock
These symptoms can occur together or individually. In principle, symptoms must occur in two or more organ systems for MCAS. These symptoms, together with the typical skin changes and anaphylaxis, are also typical of mastocytosis.
Are muscle pain and hair loss also symptoms of MCAS?
No, why would anyone think that these symptoms are primarily caused by a malfunction of mast cells? Mast cells are not important cells for muscle pain and hair loss.
How is MCAS diagnosed?
MCAS is a diagnosis of exclusion, i.e. there is no mast cell activation syndrome test. However, this does not mean that all other diseases must be ruled out before a diagnosis of MCAS can be made.
When testing directly for mast cell activation syndrome, three criteria would be examined, all of which must be met, not just two:
First, there must be a matching of symptoms to see if the above symptoms are leading, recurrent and occur in at least two organ systems.
Is there a substantial or complete improvement in the clinical symptoms when taking anti-allergic medication, antihistamines or cromoglicic acid? Then this criterion would apply.
The blood levels of tryptase in the serum can now be examined at two different points in time. This would check whether there is an increase in mast cell mediators or tryptase in the blood serum in a highly symptomatic phase or during a seizure compared to a time when there are no symptoms.
What does the tryptase level in the blood mean in the diagnosis of mast cell activation syndrome?
If the mast cell mediator tryptase rises by 20 percent of the basal value, i.e. the initial value, + 2 ng/ml during such an episode, the diagnosis of mast cell activation syndrome has been made without the need to rule out other diseases beforehand. However, taking blood samples to determine the tryptase levels is very time-consuming, because a blood sample should be taken in the normal state and then another blood sample should be taken during a seizure or a highly symptomatic episode. This means that the patient must see a doctor in good time for a blood test during the acute phase. If these tests are negative, mast cell activation syndrome cannot be confirmed.
Elevated tryptase levels also play a role in anaphylaxis, is there a connection with mast cell activation syndrome?
Anaphylaxis is an extremely strong mast cell activation, the “prototype” of mast cell activation, so to speak. The tryptase level rises, so that it is considered an indicator of anaphylaxis. Here too, the basal value is measured and compared with the value during an episode. The relevant factor is the resulting increase in the tryptase value. The therapy against mast cells is effective in this case. In this respect, anaphylaxis is the classic form of mast cell activation syndrome.
The tryptase value also plays a role in the diagnosis of mastocytosis, what are the correlations here?
Mastocytosis patients also have an elevated baseline tryptase level. This is therefore an indication of mastocytosis and an indication for a final diagnosis by means of a bone marrow biopsy. However, there is also a mastocytosis-independent correlation between tryptase and anaphylaxis. People who have a higher number of mast cells often develop more severe anaphylaxis than people with fewer mast cells. The tryptase basal value is therefore considered a kind of indicator for the total mast cells in the body. For example, insect venom anaphylactic patients with elevated basal mast cell tryptase levels in the blood are at increased risk of severe anaphylaxis.
What can be done against MCAS and which medications help?
The aim of treatment for mast cell activation syndrome is to slow down the effect of the overactivated mast cells and to calm the mast cells. In particular, the avoidance of allergic triggers is available for this purpose.
Histamine receptor blockers are tried as medication to block the effects of mast cell activation by histamine. Mast cell stabilizers or blockers of mast cell release, cromoglicic acid, can also calm the mast cells. Cromoglicic acid is also used in mastocytosis patients. It is important to know that the use of cromoglicic acid is not advisable if the attack has already run its course. On the other hand, many patients achieve a significant improvement in symptoms if cromoglicic acid is taken continuously as a preventive measure and in a sufficiently high dose. This has also been shown to be the case with antihistamines.
Another option would be leukotriene receptor antagonists and corticosteroids in the short term, but never over a longer period of time.
Unfortunately, many patients with previously unexplained complaints are given a suspected diagnosis of MCAS in the hope that this knowledge will lead to better treatment or perhaps a cure. However, apart from the drugs mentioned, which can also be used on a trial basis in cases of suspected MCAS, there are no other useful drugs available. In this respect, the suspicion of MCAS unfortunately does not offer patients any additional treatment options.
Are there foods that activate or deactivate mast cells?
No such foods are known in humans. Of course, it is possible to bombard mast cells in a test tube with high concentrations of food and measure whether the natural activation of mast cells is increased or reduced. However, such tests are generally not meaningful for humans when consumed.
Can naturopathy help with mast cell activation syndrome?
I don't know how it could help. Naturopathy is the attempt to achieve a positive effect through naturally occurring active substances. Is the avoidance of allergens in our natural environment already naturopathy?
Could certain vitamins, for example vitamin C, be beneficial for MCAS?
This is claimed by a few doctors without any convincing results. Vitamin C is also said to help against seasickness. After all, vitamin C, taken in normal amounts, is not harmful and is beneficial. Sometimes the conviction that a substance is good for you also helps. That's why the experiment doesn't bother me.
Is it possible to prevent mast cell activation syndrome?
Yes, by avoiding MCAS with a known trigger. This is the case with allergies. In the case of allergies and recurrent anaphylaxis as a form of MCAS, omalizumab, an antibody against immunoglobulin E, can also be used in individual patients.
Prof. Brockow, thank you very much for this interview!
https://www.mein-allergie-portal.com/mastozytose-mastzellaktivierungssyndrom-mcas/925-idiopathisches-mastzellenaktivierungssyndrom-ein-neues-krankheitsbild.html

It’s a late night drive through the desert. They passed a city called Novac, still captivated by the city’s magical look, the Chosen one crashed. From the ash, emerges a green silhouette, Marcus. (He says that he blew up the oil rig with the chosen one, so it makes sense they will be together) His friend didn’t have as much luck. Although alive, he suffered a concussion, and in a coma. So Marcus quickly picks him up, and the pair walk to Novac. There they enter the mayors office, and explain the situation. The mayor quickly brings Ada Straus, to take care of the two. After a few days, the Chosen is still in a coma, and Marcus is well. Fearing for the worst, Marcus leaves with the chosen’s enclave power armour helmet, and his cut and leaves to create the mutant refuge of black mountain. A few more days later, the Chosen One wakes up. Having savere brain damage, gains mental health disorders, and generally less intelligent. Some time later, two prospectors come to the town and buy the enclave power armour without the helmet for a steal, and possibly a t51 suit. They were last seen on a cliff near the deathclaw promontory. Later a new night kin comes to black mountain. Tabitha. After Marcus escapes, he leaves the helmet in a cave near the ski lodge, where he would form Jacob's town.
So that’s it. What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

Warning: long; brief mention of sexual assault, drug use, child abuse; TLDR follows
Hi, I’m wondering if anyone else has mutism in certain extremely stressful situations. I’m talking about losing the physical ability to use your voice. It has happened to me three times now and every one is scary. The first time pretty much cost me my job, as my mind blanked in the middle of a speech to 300 people, which was being recorded for future use. I totally forgot the entire training yet couldn’t explain that to my audience. It was a nightmare. I cried until they sent me home, then all night. My speech didn’t come back until the next morning.
The second time was when I had sex with a guy I didn’t like at all. I had a bad gut feeling about him and what we were up to. I went against my better judgment. The minute he took off his clothes, I went mute. Thinking back now, neither one of us should have gone there because we had both been drinking and doing hard drugs; however, I was unable to say no. I couldn’t say anothing at all to make him stop. So he didn’t really have my consent, because I couldn’t give it. Today, I would consider reporting him.
The last time (so far) this has happened was just a few days ago. I dropped my Apple Watch and needed it fixed, so I had changed my Apple password just before I brought it in - purposely easy to remembe because sometimes I have super bad trouble with my memory (former ECT patient). When the Apple technician who was working on my watch asked for my password, I could feel my brain blank and I went mute again. I tried so I had to write him notes on notepad. But it was embarrassing and scary. Very scary. My voice came back when we got home.
I hate when this happens but my psychiatrist and therapist both have said it’s related to PTSD and also to a lesser extent, anxiety. And that it will continue until I can process what happened in my past and get my anxiety under control. Well, they might as well have told me to bring the moon home in a handbasket. They said it’s NOT a bipolar thing because it’s a safety coping skill. I learned it as an abused child I’d be silent and not draw attention to myself to get beaten, and the absolute terror of my parents solidified that and turned it into a conversion disorder (which has been diagnosed). A conversion disorder is one in which a condition in which a person experiences physical and sensory problems, such as paralysis, numbness, blindness, deafness or seizures, with no underlying neurologic pathology. I’m just wondering, has anyone have it or heard of it? I feel so alone. Anyone have any advice on how to handle it again?
TLDR: I have a conversion disorder with selective mutism (physically cannot speak) that happens when I feel threatened or I panic. Am wondering if anyone else has experienced this.

Warning: long; TLDR follows
Hi, I’m wondering if anyone else has mutism in certain extremely stressful situations. I’m talking about losing the physical ability to use your voice. It has happened to me three times now and every one is scary. The first time pretty much cost me my job, as my mind blanked in the middle of a speech to 300 people, which was being recorded for future use. I totally forgot the entire training yet couldn’t explain that to my audience. It was a nightmare. I cried until they sent me home, then all night. My speech didn’t come back until the next morning.
The second time was when I had sex with a guy I didn’t like at all. I had a bad gut feeling about him and what we were up to. I went against my better judgment. The minute he took off his clothes, I went mute. Thinking back now, neither one of us should have gone there because we had both been drinking and doing hard drugs; however, I was unable to say no. I couldn’t say anothing at all to make him stop. So he didn’t really have my consent, because I couldn’t give it. Today, I would consider reporting him.
The last time (so far) this has happened was just a few days ago. I dropped my Apple Watch and needed it fixed, so I had changed my Apple password just before I brought it in - purposely easy to remembe because sometimes I have super bad trouble with my memory (former ECT patient). When the Apple technician who was working on my watch asked for my password, I could feel my brain blank and I went mute again. I tried so I had to write him notes on notepad. But it was embarrassing and scary. Very scary. My voice came back when we got home.
I hate when this happens but my psychiatrist and therapist both have said it’s related to PTSD and also to a lesser extent, anxiety. And that it will continue until I can process what happened in my past and get my anxiety under control. Well, they might as well have told me to bring the moon home in a handbasket. They said it’s NOT a bipolar thing because it’s a safety coping skill. I learned it as an abused child I’d be silent and not draw attention to myself to get beaten, and the absolute terror of my parents solidified that and turned it into a conversion disorder (which has been diagnosed). A conversion disorder is one in which a condition in which a person experiences physical and sensory problems, such as paralysis, numbness, blindness, deafness or seizures, with no underlying neurologic pathology. I’m just wondering, has anyone have it or heard of it? I feel so alone.
TLDR: I have a conversion disorder with selective mutism (physically cannot speak) that happens when I feel threatened or I panic. Am wondering if anyone else has experienced this.

Hi, I'm 17 and have unspecified dissociative disorder. I've had issues with what I think are false memories for years. In 2019 I started having nightmares about being SA'd. The other person didn't have a face, and as far as I know, I hadn't been SA'd by anyone.
More recently, I had a nightmare that I tried to kms, and someone found me and it freaked them out but I hadn't actually tried?
I left home last year because of physical abuse, and I can remember snippets, and my sister confirmed them.
I have what I can only really explain as dissociative seizures, and I've been having them for a bit over a year. I dissociate then kinda collapse. I can't respond to anything and they can happen for hours at a time. I got a brain mri and an EEG done, but neither showed anything. I have smaller episodes, and ones where I don't black out (there's no better word I know). My therapist (and any paramedic or youth worker that's seen it) says they've never seen anyone so dissociated.
I'm scared I'm faking it cause I can usually tell when it's gonna happen, and the hospital just said it was a behavioral thing, and another gave me the dissociative diagnosis.
Just wondering if anyone has experienced similaknows anything about this?

Apologies in advance as this is all over the place but I really need help.
Im 19f and lost my mother to mental illness when i was 15 and things just seem to continue to get worse. For context my parents have been divorced since around 2010, my father is a narcissist and the complete opposite of my mother. My mom was my best friend and her passing was a shock but in hindsight a long time coming i have never been the same since she passed. Living with my father and his wife was really hard for me as his wife would verbally abuse me and got physical (once i was finally 18) and i got kicked out months after turning 18 for not being able to take care of myself properly (dirty room and more). Since her passing ive cycled through friends, had a seizure which concussed me my senior year and the last couple months of school were a complete haze for me, and I now am struggling severely living entirely alone besides my two dogs. In the four years since shes passed ive been on antidepressants, ive been in therapy even since before she passed, i have a stable job, and ive been in a stable relationship with my partner since 2022. None of it seems to make me any better than i was the day she passed. If I think about her too much i start to fall apart, if i listen to a song that reminds me of her i cry uncontrollably, looking at pictures, etc. Im extremely extroverted and need people to be with and spend time with but again I live alone and my partner is a busy person (she is also the only person apart of my support system). I have no family thats local (closest is my 96yr gpa an hour away who wouldnt be able to help me even if he wanted to imo) besides my stepdad who cant remember much and i dont feel comfortable discussing it with him, and ofc my father and his wife which is a no go. My therapist who like i said ive been seeing before my mom passed (she never met her) told me i no longer need therapy as much. Im at a loss because i feel myself falling apart and getting into really bad habits (not drug or alcohol related) and I need help on how to get through this grief. I still think i’ll see her if I go back home, or i’ll see her randomly walking around, that she’ll find me one day; Im in extreme denial. No one that I know has gone through similar circumstances so those who have been through it id really appreciate any words of advice, habits, etc, that have helped you.

I’m at a loss. I am overwhelmed and have no idea how to help or proceed. I’m going to lay everything out as best as I can and answer any question to fill in gaps.
I (38NB) live in the PNW and my sister (37F) lives in the deep, rural south (Alabama). She is about 2 hours away from both Mobile and Montgomery. She is in an abusive relationship where her partner rapes and chokes her, but she has a seizure disorder, no valid ID, no income, no birth certificate for her 10 month old son. She lives in a small town of less than 500 people and no police force. The only people she knows is her partner’s two aunts, but they won’t help her because they “Don’t want to get involved”. I’m trying to get her out by flying down there and flying her back to our home state in the north east, but her partner has made it clear that he will press charges against her for kidnapping if she leaves with their son. Their son is not biologically his, but he’s on the birth certificate.
I’m trying to find her a DV shelter, but I’m not finding anything local. And there’s no way for her to get an Uber out of there because Uber doesn’t run where she is. I can only afford to do so much financially, and for the most part our immediate family is not an option (abusive and racist… my nephew is mixed and they’ve cut her off, so I’ve cut them off).
I’m emotionally exhausted, and trying to find resources for her. A lawyer? A safe place to stay? Even a way to mail her son’s BC and somehow get her an ID. I feel so lost.

(Trying to submit again... something wasn't allowed last time and I don't know what it was?
Okay, will be cross-posting this but will upload any and all help to show what I get between communities. Not here to make money, just really in the hole and it wasn't my fault (mostly).
Well first off, I am a permanently disabled girl here that had her life changed when I was driving me and my son to martial arts, someone cut us off and I ran into them. It really was a relatively minor wreck, but my airbag did not deploy and we thought I just got a concussion. A week later I was driving my Mom somewhere and I had a seizure when driving. We did not wreck then, my Mom was able to grab the wheel and pull the e-brake. But that was the start of my journey being diagnosed with medicine resistant intractable epilepsy. I have tried something like 16 meds and finally found one that kind of works, yet I still seize. I have also had 2 brain surgeries (for the RNS device in brain) and we may be looking at yet another to place more leads. I'm actually excited for that... it may be able to help my epilepsy more!
But about 4 months ago I turned in my renewal for food stamps. They just kept saying they were behind, didn't give me the help I desperately needed. As a result I had to just keep overcharging my account to get money for food. I needed that money for other things like rent, gas, bills, just everything. I would highly appreciate anyone that could donate some money my way and I will absolutely come back next month to help others. I love helping others, it kind of has always been my nature. Unlike my family though. That's a story for a different day.
I have my account overdrawn by $341. If anyone can donate ANYTHING to help me get that number to 0 or as close to it as I can, I'd be so so sooooo thankful. Do you need proof of anything of mine? I'll gladly give. Show bank account, show medical discharge papers to show I am still under total doctors care... I'm on SSI and man, that money is just NOT enough to live! My partner is my caretaker but the state only pays him for 4 hours a day at bare minimum. He can't go to work because he has to watch me, and I obviously can't work. My family does not help at all, they really aren't good people, except my son and my father (who was recently diagnosed with cancer sadly). Things are just tough. Please any donations you can make to get my account to no overdrawn I'd so appreciate! I will gladly help others when I can.
Need any more info? Just ask me.
Here are my payment infos:
Zelle: (Do you need a phone number for that or something? I don't know what my link would be for this, but I do have zelle.
Cashapp: $MeekoWeazie
Paypal: SeizeTheDay311
GoFundMe: 92b1892b18b04b04
I might have other ways to accept money, please just ask to get info!
Is there any other way I can get help? Please help if possible even if it's only 10 dollars from a few people, I'm going nuts here needing this to be more to no overdrawn!
Thank you and have a great day! I WILL help out those that need it as soon as I can!